F1 chief Mosley wants 'penalty points'

Motorsport chief Max Mosley wants to radically overhaul Formula One’s driver penalty system before next season.

Mosley believes drivers who commit offences on the track should be punished with a points system.

Drivers who refuse to heed warnings by race stewards and clock up too many points would be suspended for a race.

Mosley has reacted to complaints over the current system where stewards punish drivers during the race by calling them in to the pits to serve drive-through or stop-go penalties.

Columbia’s Juan Pablo Montoya saw his title hopes effectively ended at the US Grand Prix last year when he was punished for hitting Rubens Barrichello off the track even though afterwards it was shown that the Brazilian was struggling with gearbox problems.

“This system would be much more satisfactory,” said Mosley, president of the sport’s world governing body FIA, in Autosport magazine.

“There is a strong body of opinion that says you should have a referee who takes decisions immediately – like in football.

“I agree with that except if you don’t have to, and we don’t have to, then maybe it is better not to.

“Your first requirement is to be fair and what we have at the moment is bound to give the occasional odd result.

“Even if it is not unfair people still think it is and that is just as bad.”

Under the new system stewards would be able to interview drivers and have access to all the necessary data after a race before deciding if any punishment should be meted out.

Mosley is considering calling a meeting of all team principles in a bid to change regulations before the season opening race in Melbourne in March.

Williams BMW driver Montoya said: “I don’t think you need to have a situation where you get points on licenses.

“We do want a different system but don’t think it should be by accumulating points or anything.

“We are racing out there and if you start accumulating points for things then no-one is going to risk anything and nobody is going to pass anybody.”