The F1 Commission will meet this week to discuss a new points system for the sport, which could be introduced as early as 2025.
It would see points awarded to the top 12 at the end of a grand prix, rather than the top 10, and offer an extra opportunity to the teams that are not regular point-scorers.
But what does the current crop of drivers make of the proposed change, which could alter the landscape of the constructors’ championship?
Bottas in favour
Being part of one of three teams that have not yet scored points this season, perhaps it is not a major surprise Valtteri Bottas is keen to see the change.
Stake F1 currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ championship with a best result of 14th throughout the opening five rounds.
“At the moment where we are as a team, yes,” Bottas said when asked by RacingNews365 if he was in favour of the change.
“But if you’re in a top three or four team, then you don’t mind. So that’s how it goes.
“To be fair to everybody, I think the more points positions there are, even in the sprint, I think it’s better.
“It creates even more competition. It’s extremely hard to score now, the top five teams have a bit of a gap to everyone else.”
‘Do a better job’
While acknowledging the benefits the extra points on offer could provide Williams, Alex Albon has insisted he would simply prefer to be a top-five team and regularly be inside the traditional point-scoring positions.
“Would I want that? Maybe – but at the same time, you want to be a top-five team,” he said.
“In some respects it feels like when you’re one of the bottom five teams, you’re looking for that one wet, damp, red flag race that’s going to transform your whole championship.
“That’s what we’re relying on. Last year it felt like it was a bit closer, the McLarens weren’t always there and you could fight at other weekends. It’s true that now consistently, unless there’s a DNF, nothing is going to happen.
“We are fighting for P10 most of the time. I should ask my team if we want it – myself, I don’t really care. I’d rather just do a better job and be a top-five team.”
Pierre Gasly, meanwhile, is flat out against the idea despite Alpine’s low lying position in the current pecking order.
“They [bottom five teams] have just got to do a better job, it’s simple as that, it’s always been the same,” he said. “The last couple of years, if you’re not in the top 10, you just got to work it out and make a faster car.
“I’m happy with how it is. I don’t want to change too much the way Formula 1 is. Sometimes when you’ve got a great tool, there’s no need to just reinvent the wheel. I’m happy to keep it as it is.”
it feels like when you’re one of the bottom five teams, you’re looking for that one wet, damp, red-flag race that’s going to transform your whole championship.
– Alex Albon
Magnussen calls for huge revamp
In a stark contrast to other opinions, Kevin Magnussen has suggested that points should be on offer for every finisher.
The format is used in various other categories, including the IndyCar Series.
“I think that would be good, maybe points for everyone would be better so that you always have something to fight for, and it’s not going to change the result in the championship,” he said.
“I think it just means that it’s a more interesting fight between the bottom five. When you’re fighting for P16 or 14 or something like that, it’d be good if there was still something to fight for.
“It’s just not interesting when you’re that far behind. With the car we have this year it’s still interesting because it’s fast enough that if something happens, a safety car or whatever we get back in the fight.”