On Tuesday, the FIA announced that the Formula 1 championship will now go to the driver who wins the most races in the 2009 season.  This change in how the title is awarded has been very controversial, and many F1 teams have opposed it, although F1 supremo Bernie Eccleston remains unrepentant.

The previous points system has been in use for almost 60 years, but now it will only be used to break a tie between two drivers who have won the same number of races.  It will also be used to determine places from second down.  Simply put, whichever driver manages to win the most of the seventeen races set for 2009 will take the title.