Alonso: Points for all drivers would stop 'miracle' results
Fernando Alonso fears awarding points to all Formula 1 drivers under proposed plans for the 2020 season would stop "miracle" results, believing a scoring finish should retain a level of exclusivity.
Force India team owner Vijay Mallya revealed last week that F1 chiefs were considering a new points format from 2020 whereby all drivers in the race would score points, or expanding the points-paying positions to the top 15.
Fernando Alonso fears awarding points to all Formula 1 drivers under proposed plans for the 2020 season would stop "miracle" results, believing a scoring finish should retain a level of exclusivity.
Force India team owner Vijay Mallya revealed last week that F1 chiefs were considering a new points format from 2020 whereby all drivers in the race would score points, or expanding the points-paying positions to the top 15.
The current points format sees the race winner receive 25 points, with the top 10 finishers scoring on a sliding scale down to one point for the driver in P10.
When asked about the proposed changes last week, Alonso explained how he felt limiting points to the top 10 finishers made them more significant to backmarker outfits, using Jules Bianchi's ninth-place finish for Marussia at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix as an example.
"I think in F1, it has been always quite difficult to get points. Some elite guys got the big points and it was kind of a big reward when you even scored just two points or something," Alonso said.
"I remember now when Jules scored the ninth position in Monaco, it was some kind of miracle. That was a big moment for the sport.
"If everyone is scoring points now then maybe we lose that unique feeling in F1. Whatever they decide will be OK, but definitely in F1, it feels like it should be more exclusive."
The Verizon IndyCar Series in America sees all competing drivers score points, with Alonso racking up 47 points after his one-off appearance at the Indianapolis 500 last year, where he qualified fifth and retired from the race, classified in 24th.
