F1 champion demands 'awful' point system revamp

Jacques Villeneuve has demanded that F1 change the "awful" point system. 

Since 2010, points have been awarded to the top 10 at the end of each race, whilst the top eight receive points in sprint races. 

Last year, F1 mulled over the introduction of a new points system. The only change for the upcoming season, however, is that the fastest lap bonus point has been axed. 

For 1997 F1 champion Villeneuve, that is not enough, with the Canadian calling for a complete overhaul.

"Yes, I’d change the points system," Villeneuve told The Action Network. "The points system is awful. 

"It's really old-fashioned. It's too weighted to the winner, and half the field doesn't score points, so you see them fighting like mad for 15th place."

F1 stuck in the past

The idea raised last year was to award points to the top 12 drivers. It was ultimately rejected. 

In Villeneuve's opinion, this would not go far enough. The Canadian is in favour of every driver receiving a point.

"Who knows, but at least the last guy finishing, or anyone qualifying, should get a point," said Villeneuve. "So 20th gets a point. 

"Someone who's done 15 races, and he qualified 15 times, he should have more points than someone who finishes last twice.

"I guess that's more the American system where every little step is worth something to fight for. That would be a full revamp of the points system."

With the idea for extending points to 12th place rejected, Villeneuve fears further changes to the point system will not happen any time soon. 

The 53-year-old believes this is because F1 has struggled to modernise and is stuck in its "old" ways.

"I can’t see it happening to that extent," added Villeneuve. "You know F1 has a very difficult time adapting and modernising in that sense. 

"There's a lot of old school, and I am part of the old school. I often have a hard time with a lot of modernisation of these kinds of rules.

"But the point system has been old-fashioned for way too long now."