Before this season began, the FIA changed the points system so that two extra finishers per race would score points, while the point gap between the winner and second place was widened in order to give victory a greater importance.
But if last year’s system was to be applied today, Alonso would currently be leading Jenson Button by a single point. The analysis has been made by Spanish sports newspaper AS.
Currently Jenson Button, who has won two races compared with the more consistently-competitive Alonso's single victory in Bahrain, is leading the Spaniard in the drivers overall standings by three points.
The old system awarded 10 points for a win, 8 for the second place, 6 for third, 5 for fourth, 4 for fifth, 3 for sixth, 2 for seventh and 1 for eight. Under the new system, the race winner takes 25 points, with 18 and 15 being awarded for second and third places respectively. The next seven finishers will score 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point respectively.
Briton Button told the Spanish sports newspaper that when he moved from Brawn to McLaren for 2010, he did not expect to be leading the world championship after five races. "For the first five races my goal was to feel at home and adapt to the car," said the reigning world champion. "Leading the championship at the moment is a great feeling, but it's only the beginning. There's a long way to go in a championship that is going to be very challenging and close," added Button.
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