register to 888sport
888sport time:

General Sports News

Wins to decide F1 title

Author: Rose Young
Date: 17/03/2009

The World Motor Sport Council's governing body, the FIA, has decided that the Formula One driver who wins the most Grand Prix in the new season will be the world champion and not the one who accrues the highest number of points.

However, the FIA rejected a proposal by the F1 Teams' Association to change the points system to 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 from first to eighth places. Instead, the current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system will remain in place.

The points system will still operate to decide a tie if two drivers have the same number of wins and to define all other championship positions.

If the system had been in place last year, Felipe Massa would have been crowned world champion rather than Lewis Hamilton.

In rugby union, Wales coach Warren Gatland has made eight changes to the side that beat Italy at the weekend for the Six Nations finale against betting favourites Ireland.

Ryan Jones returns to captain the side while Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Ian Gough and Martyn Williams are also included in Gatland's starting line-up.

Meanwhile, from the side that lost to France last month, Gavin Henson starts at inside centre rather than Jamie Roberts while Mark Jones replaces Leigh Halfpenny.

Grand Slam-chasing Ireland coach Declan Kidney has brought Tomas O'Leary in to his starting line-for Saturday's game at the Millennium Stadium.

The scrum-half has been handed a surprise recall ahead of Peter Stringer, who produced a superb display against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Also returning to the team are Jamie Heaslip and Jerry Flannery in place of Denis Leamy and Rory Best.

Unbeaten Ireland are looking to secure their first Grand Slam for 61 years while the Triple Crown and the Six Nations Championship title are also at stake.

Wales need to beat Ireland by 13 points to retain the Championship title and clinch the Triple Crown.

In football, the Carlos Tevez affair promises to rumble on after former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock revealed he may now pursue a personal compensation claim against West Ham.

On Monday, the near two-year saga looked to have finally come to a close after the two clubs reached an out-of-court settlement - believed to be around £15million - to end their dispute.

Sheffield United had sought compensation after Tevez helped keep the Hammers in the Premier League at their expense in 2007 despite being signed ineligibly.

But although the clubs have reached a settlement, Warnock - who resigned as Blades manager three days after their relegation from the top-flight - may now pursue a personal claim.

The now Crystal Palace manager has also suggested the players who were relegated with the Bramall Lane outfit may also have a case to consider.

online betting