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If F1 took inspiration from the Olympics, what would the medal table look like at mid-season in 2024?
© Florent Gooden / DPPI
A few days ago, 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 better, certainly – we still wondered what the medal table would look like at mid-2024 season if this system had finally been adopted in Formula 1. Unsurprisingly, one man would outrageously dominate the championship: with his seven victories – sorry, his seven gold medals – Max Verstappen would be well at the top of the ranking.
On the other hand, behind it, there is a match. Lewis Hamilton, author of “only” four podiums but two victories, would then be 2nd ahead of five other competitors tied for gold medals. Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Oscar piastri, Carlos Sainz and George Russell would then be decided by their number of silver medals and here, it would be Lando Norris who would take 3rd place, ahead of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc. The last two cities would be decided by the number of bronze medals, to the advantage of the Spaniard.
Among manufacturers, the same observation: Red Bull would therefore have seven gold medals and a large lead in the championship. Fourth in the championship with the current points system, Mercedes would climb to 2nd place with the medal system thanks to his three victories. McLaren et Ferrari, with two gold medals, would be neck and neck, although with eight silver medals, the British team would be ranked ahead.
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Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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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.