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Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 5:24 AM #1
Famine GTPEDIA Author
I've just had an idea so awesome that I'm concerned my foot might fall off and I've had to interrupt watching a meaningless F1 session to post it.

My idea fixes team orders, fixes driver vs. team championships, fixes favoured drivers and one-off parts. My idea fixes the politics of F1:

Make the Constructors' Championship for second place finishers only.

Stick with me here.
* At the end of each race, the drivers' championship is calculated as normal, using whatever points system Bernie likes today.
* Following that, all teams' highest place drivers are disregarded.
* The remaining 12 drivers (less DNFs - DNF is 0pt) are then ranked using the same points system and this is the constructors' championship

Quick & dirty example - 2010 German Grand Prix:
Race Result & Drivers' Championship
1. Alonso (25pt)
2. Massa (18pt)
3. Vettel (15pt)
4. Hamilton (12pt)
5. Button (10pt)
6. Webber (8pt)
7. Kubica (6pt)
8. Rosberg (4pt)
9. Schumacher (2pt)
10. Petrov (1pt)
11. Kobayashi
12. Barrichello
13. Hulkenburg
14. de la Rosa
15. Alguersuari
16. Liuzzi
17. Sutil
18. Glock
19. Senna
DNF - Kovalainen, di Grassi, Yamamoto, Trulli, Buemi

Constructors' Championship
1. Massa (25pt)
2. Button (18pt)
3. Webber (15pt)
4. Schumacher (12pt)
5. Petrov (10pt)
6. Hulkenberg (8pt)
7. de la Rosa (6pt)
8. Sutil (4pt)
DNF - di Grassi, Yamamoto, Trulli, Buemi


The team order would probably still have happened - Ferrari get the same constructors' points in both cases (43pt currently, 25pt this way) but people would care less because whomever is the lead second driver scores maximum points for the team. We don't get denied a championship fight (and the constructors' championship is closer) - team orders are allowed (they happen everywhere anyway) and don't spoil the result (unless you're a one-driver fan), benefitting the whole sport.

Second drivers become far more important to the team - they can't concentrate on the lead driver alone, because he doesn't get them any points. HRT/Virgin/Lotus don't need to get a driver twelve places higher at the end than at the start to score one poxy point - they need to get both cars to finish and have the second one ahead of just two others and any occasion where a higher ranked team fails to finish their second car, they get even more. This encourages reliability too - fail to finish one car and you get no Constructor points. Finish both and you're almost guaranteed a point (only Brazil has seen all 10 points-paying positions for this scheme filled - no eleventh car though)


I've tried to work out this season's constructors' championship with this system. Currently it stands at:

Edit: Post-Abu Dhabi added:
1. Red Bull - 279pt
2. Ferrari - 276pt
3. McLaren - 267pt
4. Mercedes - 195pt
5. Williams - 140pt
6. Renault - 117pt
7. Toro Rosso - 113pt
8. Sauber - 107pt
9. Force India - 91pt
10. Hispania - 51pt
11. Lotus - 40pt
12. Virgin - 36pt

This would mean that any of the top three teams can still win it, along with any of the top four drivers winning their championship. Edit: Decided at the final race with a gap of TWELVE points 1st-3rd (compared to 102 in reality - or 51 if you take into account half the field scoring).

The only driver to not score any constructor points - thus never having finished behind his teammate with both cars finishing - is Robert Kubica. Which tells everyone, through the beauty of maths, that Vitaly Petrov is Captain Crashy McCrashpants or that Renault don't support him (or both). The most valuable team drivers are Felipe Massa (218pt), Jenson Button (206pt), Mark Webber (178pt) and Michael Schumacher (165pt), who finish behind their teammates with both cars finishing more often than anyone else. Red Bull are the most even top team (62:38 split constructor points) - Ferrari the least even (78:22 split constructor points). Williams are the most even team with (60:40 split constructor points).

So you get enhanced reliability, team orders rendered moot (they'll still happen, as they already do, but who cares?), mathematical proof of the balance in teams (which, having watched a lot of North American sports coverage, will make F1 more accessible to US fans) and at least one of the championships is tighter than a duckling's bunghole (I'll work out previous seasons later), even if we end up with another 7 years' of drivers' tedium.


I rule. Discuss.
Last edited by Famine; Nov 14 2010 at 2:09 PM.
   
 
Ardius's Avatar
United KingdomManchester
Nov 13 2010, 5:37 AM #2
Ardius Kobayashi fan
This doesn't so much solve team orders as make them more valuable. I'm not so sure thats what people are asking for when they say they should be banned. I thought the whole point of hating team orders is that you are denied a fair fight on the track, where Alonso overtakes Massa through skill and that Massa is not given a fair chance to win the race.
It sounds good but I don't think its necessary, 2nd drivers already are highly valuable..just look at Renault. With Petrov under-perfoming all year, they have had no chance to fight Mercedes.

I also don't think a great many people care about the Constructors Championship either, though this kind of rule may change that.

I support the idea though, it would be nice to see people making an effort to promote the "team" aspect of the sport rather than constantly focusing on individuals, which is where it all goes wrong.
   
haitch40's Avatar
United KingdomLincoln UK
Nov 13 2010, 5:42 AM #3
haitch40 Project CARS rocks.
I dont like this idea as teams favour drivers for the drivers championship not the constructors.
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 5:52 AM #4
Famine GTPEDIA Author
Ardius View Post
This doesn't so much solve team orders as make them more valuable. I'm not so sure thats what people are asking for when they say they should be banned. I thought the whole point of hating team orders is that you are denied a fair fight on the track, where Alonso overtakes Massa through skill and that Massa is not given a fair chance to win the race.
Yes and no.

Banning them - though it's actually happened - is impossible. They just send barely-coded messages to each other about relative speed and fuelling and one driver gets denied "n" points for his race finish. This way, both drivers get "n" points for their race finish - one for drivers', one for constructors' (and he still gets his slightly reduced drivers' points too), making the second driver more valuable to the team.


Ardius View Post
I also don't think a great many people care about the Constructors Championship either, though this kind of rule may change that.

I support the idea though, it would be nice to see people making an effort to promote the "team" aspect of the sport rather than constantly focusing on individuals, which is where it all goes wrong.

Exactly

haitch40 View Post
I dont like this idea as teams favour drivers for the drivers championship not the constructors.
The... huh?

Are you saying this already happens and should continue (in which case you've missed quite a few points) or that my plan would make it happen more (in which case you've missed even more points)?

The top drivers still race for championships - this points system wouldn't affect Vettel and Webber (and Hamilton and Alonso) going for that #1 next season tomorrow. All it changes is that the way for teams to thrive is to finish both drivers well and not concentrate on one or the other - it also ensures they pick good young drivers, rather than guys with a good bankroll behind them.

Let's face it - no-one gives a crap about the teams championship besides the teams. This will make it more interesting, make the politics/orders harmless to the sport and promote reliable, equal speed.
   
NapoleonMikey's Avatar
No Country SpecifiedCharleston, SC
Nov 13 2010, 6:48 AM #5
NapoleonMikey Kobayashi for 2011 WDC
Ddoes the second driver still get WDC points?
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 6:51 AM #6
Famine GTPEDIA Author
Yes - there's no change to the Drivers' Championship.
   
No Country SpecifiedMelboure Australia
Nov 13 2010, 9:34 AM #7
killanite GTP Addict
Hmm. I don't know about fixing the politics.. they will always be around... However as a concept, I think it's pretty clever. It'll make team strategy much more important (as well as reliability, and having 2 strong drivers as mentioned), and make the constructers championship ALOT more interesting to watch. (am I the only one who barely notices the thing?)

I like it, don't know if it mends anything... but it would be a refreshing change to having one team dominate due to having the championship driver reaping them all the points.
   
DK's Avatar
IrelandAAA Wunder
Nov 13 2010, 9:38 AM #8
DK Favoured Four-Eyes
Great going, what next for the amazing Famine? Are you going to try to solve world hunger, cure AIDS or get Republicans and Democrats to get along with each other and agree?
   
daan's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 9:43 AM #9
daan Aaah Aaaaaaah! Online Now!
When there's 5 drivers in contention with 2 races to go, and 4 still in with a shout for the last race, I don't think it's broken.
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 9:44 AM #10
Famine GTPEDIA Author
There's broken aspects - particularly if you're unlucky enough to be a supporting act in a team (perpetually Massa, but also Barrichello over the years) or one of the newbie teams. The teams' championship is rarely as interesting as the drivers' and often settled with very many races left. We've struck lucky this year with the drivers and the manufacturers' was only settled last race. I haven't got round to running the numbers for previous seasons (it's a bit tricky, particularly with regards to classified DNFs), but I reckon it'd make many seasons much closer and more knife-edge than they were - we might even have memorable constructors' championships! Not to mention the effect on reliability - get both cars home or score nothing. Teams jumping five places in the last race of the season? Hispania on 47 points, just behind Force India? Mental


As you know, I recently got back from the US and I watch a lot of US sport anyway and this sort of minute, nit-picking mathematical statswanking is exactly the kind of thing US sport TV channels thrive on - an hour of every football game is actual football, another hour is adverts and the remaining two hours is discussion of rushing yards and pass completion (or the equivalent in MLS/NHL/NBA/MLB). And just imagine the permutations they could discuss for who'd win the constructors' championship tomorrow! BBC are already in meltdown with all the drivers' championship stuff - who needs to place where and suchlike. They'd be in hog heaven


driftking18594 View Post
Great going, what next for the amazing Famine? Are you going to try to solve world hunger, cure AIDS or get Republicans and Democrats to get along with each other and agree?
Famine solving hunger?

You didn't think this through...


Edit: Previous seasons...

2010
1. Red Bull 498pt --> 1. Red Bull 279pt
2. McLaren 454pt --> 2. Ferrari 276pt
3. Ferrari 396pt --> 3. McLaren 267pt
4. Mercedes 214pt --> 4. Mercedes 195pt
5. Renault 163pt --> 5. Williams 140pt
6. Williams 69pt --> 6. Renault 117pt
7. Force India 68pt --> 7. Toro Rosso 113pt
8. Sauber 44pt --> 8. Sauber 107pt
9. Toro Rosso 13pt --> 9. Force India 91pt
10. Lotus 0pt --> 10. Hispania 51pt
11. Hispania 0pt --> 11. Lotus 40pt
12. Virgin 0pt --> 12. Virgin 36pt

The season was one race longer than reality, with the championship decided by Webber's 8th place (3rd second driver). Ferrari finish second with Button's 3rd place (1st second driver) not enough to catch them. Renault's reward for constantly bringing just one car home - Kubica's - sees them fall behind Williams and Toro Rosso's even pairing give them two places as a reward. Hispania's consistency in getting both cars home sees them top the new teams deservedly.

2009
1. Brawn 172pt --> 1. Brawn 127pt
2. RBR 153.5pt --> 2. RBR 81pt
3. McLaren 71pt --> 3. Toyota 71pt
4. Ferrari 70pt --> 4. Ferrari 57pt
5. Toyota 59.5pt --> 5. Sauber 54pt
6. Sauber 36pt --> 6. McLaren 53pt
7. Williams 34.5pt --> 7. Williams 50pt
8. Renault 26pt --> Renault 36.5pt
9. Force India 13pt --> Force India 33pt
10. STR 8pt --> STR 23pt

The championship would actually have been shorter (lolwhoops), though second would have been on the table right to the end (RBR/Toyota/Ferrari/McLaren). Brawn, Ferrari and McLaren's obvious team imbalances would be made much more obvious and Toyota and Red Bull's even driver pairings and reliability would have reaped more reward for at least one of them. STR would have gone into the last race knowing that a possible 10th & 11th place finish (compared to an improbable 4th) would have promoted them one spot.

2008
1. Ferrari 172pt --> 1. McLaren 113pt
2. McLaren 151pt --> 2. BMW Sauber 111pt
3. BMW Sauber 135pt --> 3. Ferrari 95pt
4. Renault 80pt --> 4. Toyota 63pt
5. Toyota 56pt --> 5. Williams 62pt
6. Toro Rosso 39pt --> 6. Red Bull 50pt
7. Red Bull 29pt --> 7. Renault 49pt
8. Williams 26pt --> Toro Rosso 35pt
9. Honda 14pt --> Honda 34pt
10. Force India 0pt --> Force India 7pt
11. Super Aguri 0pt --> Super Aguri 6pt

BMW's extraordinary reliability - 16 points finishes from 18 - combined with their season-long speed promotes them to second, while the McLaren goes top. Ferrari's early and mid-season unreliability (and Kimi's indifference) drops them back to third. Williams' excellent team balance and reliability promotes them to best-of-the-rest, while STR's fluke wet win doesn't skew their championship - judged on the season rather than a one-off race puts them back behind their parent team (who have Coulthard holding them back in the teams' championship) and nearly within Honda's grasp at the end. Vettel scores no points for STR, alerting other teams to his ability - his championship comes two seasons later.


I'll do more for other seasons when I remember. It's hard work this
Last edited by Famine; Nov 15 2010 at 4:58 AM.
   
MTC's Avatar
United KingdomMilton Keynes
Nov 13 2010, 10:26 AM #11
MTC Junior Member
Team orders exist because teams want one of their drivers to win the drivers’ championship. Team orders already have no effect on the constructors’ championship, they would have just as little effect on this proposed change to the constructors’ championship.

This suggestion would not make a difference to team orders; as long as teams have 2 or more drivers, there will be times when some teams will see team orders as beneficial.
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 10:33 AM #12
Famine GTPEDIA Author
MTC View Post
Team orders exist because teams want one of their drivers to win the drivers’ championship. Team orders already have no effect on the constructors’ championship, they would have just as little effect on this proposed change to the constructors’ championship.

This suggestion would not make a difference to team orders; as long as teams have 2 or more drivers, there will be times when some teams will see team orders as beneficial.
...

Point the missed have you.

Team orders exist. Team orders won't go away. This change renders them moot not because they change the drivers' championship but because they no longer affect the constructors' championship - we get to see the fight played out in the constructors' championship (something we've been denied for a while) instead...

The biggest complaint about team orders is that it "denies the fans a chance to see racing". Not any more.
   
DC9990's Avatar
No Country SpecifiedNottingham, UK
Nov 13 2010, 10:50 AM #13
DC9990 Silver Member
I actually like the idea of this. It would also help the lower teams a bit more & make it overall closer.
   
homeforsummer's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 11:13 AM #14
homeforsummer Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato #11
Ardius View Post
I also don't think a great many people care about the Constructors Championship either
Apart from the constructors themselves, natch.

This method would stop teams mindlessly biasing one of their drivers to gain the most constructors points (as Famine says, the Alonso/Massa situation earlier this year wouldn't have made a difference, but other things do, such as giving one driver a better car than the other) as the emphasis for the team (rather than the first-placed driver, who'd be out to do the best for him) is on getting the second driver as high as possible too.

Also, think of the shock results. Take a race where your finishing order is something like Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Lotus, Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault etc.

Unlikely of course, but you can see how it'd mix things up - although four cars would have finished ahead of the first Lotus and therefore all the drivers would get more points, Lotus would actually get the most constructors points.

For a team struggling for funding it's great, as points mean prizes. Well, points pay for air transit and all sorts of other goodies that's hugely important to smaller teams.

A team getting both cars in a decent position and ahead of at least one competitior from rival teams can score big in the constructors title.

There'd also be an emphasis on getting rid of crappy drivers too, or those in a team solely because they paid their way in, since if they only got poor results the team would be losing more money than they gain from a paying driver's sponsorship. In this respect, it's good for bringing the talented, rather than the rich, to the top.

Famine - what have I told you about cutting your toenails with a scythe?...
   
Ardius's Avatar
United KingdomManchester
Nov 13 2010, 12:10 PM #15
Ardius Kobayashi fan
I wouldn't quite call it "mindlessly biasing" . Its pretty logical really. Has Massa been ahead of Alonso ever since Hockenheim? No, so it wasn't mindless bias, it was smart tactics.
Mindless bias is Team Aon favouring Chilton over Onslow-Cole, despite OC being quite a bit ahead in the championship, all because one happens to have a father who owns Aon....although still its not really "mindless", it has a logic. Just not one that applies very well if they want to win a championship.
   
homeforsummer's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 12:27 PM #16
homeforsummer Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato #11
Sorry, I worded that badly. I wasn't saying that the Massa/Alonso swap was mindless biasing, I just happened to mention it after I was talking about bias in general.

And you're right, the Team Aon thing was the sort of thing I was on about, and some of Red Bull's decisions this year have been fairly close to that, as have other decisions in previous F1 seasons.
   
DK's Avatar
IrelandAAA Wunder
Nov 13 2010, 1:33 PM #17
DK Favoured Four-Eyes
Famine View Post
Famine solving hunger?

You didn't think this through...

I was just having a laugh. You solving hunger would sure look like the most ironic thing mankind has ever known. That and creationists saying that Hitler was an atheist.
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 1:35 PM #18
Famine GTPEDIA Author
I was thinking about maybe solving laziness and procrastination tomorrow.


Meh, screw it. I can't be bothered.
   
lbsf1's Avatar
United KingdomEngland
Nov 13 2010, 1:36 PM #19
lbsf1 A Marks & Spencers Member
I like this idea it is great however there is one small idea i don't like, i used to be able to do the maths on who was going too win the championship depending on where they are finishing because the points were 10, 8 and so on and they were easy to understand, now with this years points I can't work out the points and have to wait for the commentator to tell me who would finish were in the championship. There is no way with this system I could work out who would win. The other problem I see with this is that drivers that are just slightly worse than there teamates would end up substatially lower on points then their conterparts who are only slightly better so the drivers standings at the end of the year wouldn't show fairly who is better than who because a relitevely bad driver in virgin could earn more points than a good driver who finishes well but always slightly below their teamates.
   
Famine's Avatar
Nov 13 2010, 1:43 PM #20
Famine GTPEDIA Author
No they couldn't - this doesn't affect the drivers' championship. It's only a new way of calculating how points are gained for the constructors' championship.

Though yes, you'd be hard pressed to work it out until the final lap.
   

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