F1
If F1 took inspiration from the Olympics, what would the medal table look like in 2024?
© Florent Gooden / DPPI
This summer, on the sidelines of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we returned on Bernie Ecclestone's absurd idea to establish a medal system in Formula 1 at the end of the 2000s. At the time, the big money maker of the discipline wanted to shake up the sporting regulations by rewarding the first three drivers in a Grand Prix with gold, silver and bronze medals. Thus, a bit like the medal table during the Olympics, the pilot with the most gold medals would win the championship. In the event of a tie, it would be the silver medals, then the bronze medals, which would decide between the pilots.
While this idea was never implemented – for the best, certainly – we still wondered what a medal table would look like for the 2024 season if this system had finally been adopted in Formula 1. Unsurprisingly, one man would outrageously dominate the championship: with his nine victories – sorry, his nine gold medals – Max Verstappen would be well at the top of the ranking.
On the other hand, behind, it is tighter. Vice-world champion, Lando Norris would also be 2nd in the medal table with his four victories, ahead of Charles Leclerc and his three gold medals. Behind the podium, there are four drivers with two victories each… and to decide between them, you have to look at the number of 2nd and 3rd places won in 2024. In this game, it's Oscar piastri who is doing best with four 2nd places, ahead of Carlos Sainz and his two 2nd places.
Compared to the real 2024 championship standings, the only major change would be the reversal of positions between the two drivers. Mercedes : if George Russell finished ahead Lewis Hamilton in terms of points scored, he would have finished behind his British compatriot with the medal system since the seven-time world champion took 2nd place in Las Vegas, compared to none for George Russell. Finally, we obviously find the two French drivers, Esteban Ocon et Pierre Gasly, in the Top 10 thanks to their incredible double podium in Brazil.
Among the Constructors, the title would have changed hands: in fact, with the medal system, it is Red Bull which would have been titled, and not McLaren, thanks to the nine gold medals won by Max Verstappen. With only six gold medals, the British team should have had to settle for second place. Ferrari (5 wins) and Mercedes (4 wins) would follow, whileAlpine would enter the Top 5 thanks to the double podium at Interlagos!
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
31/12/2024 at 05:28 a.m.
Let's hope this doesn't give ideas to the FIA, which already hands out medals on the podium! Unless Liberty Media finds a mega-advertiser (from the Gulf?) willing to sponsor such a classification system.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
12/08/2024 at 07:33 a.m.
It remains to be seen whether Liberty Media, which seeks to create more show and glitter, would find any interest in it! I would prefer that the field be expanded to 12 or even 13 teams in order to provide seats for young talents and avoid seeing F1 transform into a "geriatric sport" with more and more people in their forties (admittedly in excellent physical shape!) ...
Jacques Morin
12/08/2024 at 10:40 a.m.
This method, also called "Bernie Ranking" because Ecclestone had submitted the idea, favors the winners and disadvantages the grocers. Above all, it would have allowed drivers with unreliable cars to be crowned. Thus Jim Clark would have 4 titles, more consistent to his domination of the 60's But the biggest changes would have taken place at the end of the 70's and throughout the 80's Thus Senna would have 4 titles, Prost 5, Pironi 1, Andretti and Jones 2, and Mansell 3. , Lauda would have only been titled once and Piquet never! More recently Massa would have been champion in 2008. And Rosberg Junior would not have been titled, like his father. We see that in the recent period, the. Greater reliability of the cars doesn't change much. In conclusion, the medal system benefits the legends and it wouldn't be any worse. Personally, I find this system more interesting for the drivers. more appropriate.