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Bernie to drop F1 double points for '15?

LONDON, England - As the 2014 double-points finale in Abu Dhabi approaches (Nov 23), Bernie Ecclestone has admitted the controversial scheme could be dropped for 2015.

To spice-up the title fight until the dying laps of the 2014 championship double points were introduced for the season-ending race - at the chief executive's behest.

It was criticised for being artificial and unfair and has resulted in Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton having a comfortable 17-point lead heading into Abu Dhabi but being still in danger of a mechanical failure allowing team mate Nico Rosberg to win the title by some margin.

DOUBLE POINTS CRITICISED

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "It would put a big shadow over the championship if it was turned by a technical issue.

"Nobody likes the double points... I don't think Bernie even likes them now. It's going to be something that we should probably be getting rid of for next season."

Indeed, Ecclestone has admitted that the scheme would probably be dropped for 2015 after he initially pushed for double points to apply for the final three races of 2014 and had to compromise.

In an interview with business journalist Christian Sylt, Ecclestone said: "One race is stupid but imagine if it were the last three races. It means that somebody would have to have a 150-point advantage minimum to be sure they would win.

"The teams have not accepted it because they are bloody idiots."

He said the three-race plan would need the consent of the teams so F1 was likely to revert to its standard points system for 2015.

Ecclestone said: "I'm not going to propose the three races again. I'm going to let them get on with it. I don't know what we're going to do next year."

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