Retired world champion Michael Schumacher has labelled Formula One’s late rule changes as astonishing and absurd.
As well as introducing a radical budget-capping option for teams from 2010, the FIA has changed the points-scoring system, so that the championship will be won by the driver with the most race wins.
However, the seven-time world champion says it is senseless to make such radical alterations, especially given that the new season is a little more than a week away.
“The new rules have been given out on such a late moment prior to the season - something which to me is really, well, astonishing,” he said. “As in all the years, when the majority wanted to have a rule change for a good reason, they always said that would not be possible in a short term or so late before a season.
“I cannot imagine those changes to help F1, especially regarding the new system to find the champion,” Schumacher said. “I cannot see how it makes sense to eventually have a world champion who has less points than the driver coming in second, even if I also think it is a good move to try and make wins count for more.”
Schumacher’s former teammate Felipe Massa would have won last year’s title instead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton with the new rules. In all, seven championships would have been altered.
“In general we should also make sure that F1 remains the top series of motorsport, displaying its competition also on the highest technology level,” Schumacher said.
The 40-year-old Schumacher, who still works with Ferrari, believes Renault, Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP will contend with the Italians for this year’s title.
“McLaren at the moment looks pretty bad,” he said of Ferrari’s traditional rival.
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