Motorsport legend slams F1´s double points for Abu Dhabi

Former Formula One world champion John Surtees has labelled the new double points rule as 'totally and utterly wrong'. Double points will be awarded at the final race of the 2014 championship in Abu Dhabi, likely to keep the competition alive until the end of the campaign. Brit Surtees, the 1964 world champion, has become the latest to criticise the decision. "It must be purely a commercial gimmick," he told MotorSportsTalk. "I think it's totally and utterly wrong. "This means of trying to artificially change the results of championships or races is something, which is not in the true spirit of what we should be trying to achieve." Surtees said the 2014 championship was tough to predict as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel eyes a fifth straight title. But he expects the German, Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to be among the challengers. "When you go along and see the complete way that the Red Bull team is operated and its structure, and you have a driver like Sebastian Vettel, who has been superb in every area and the way he attacks his racing is something which is an example to all these young drivers I think, they must have a chance to be right at the top," Surtees said. "Ferrari, with the opportunity to develop the new engines and going back to V6s, there's a chance for them. I'm not quite so sure how the relationship with Alonso and Raikkonen will work. "It's not the one I would necessarily have chosen but, just the same, they'll be there. "Mercedes, also. I don't like what I've seen happening at Mercedes, this juggle that's taking place and people like Ross Brawn going. "But, just the same, they have immense resources and some very good people, and two very capable drivers. McLaren's last year with Mercedes will be trying to lift up their game. "It's going to be very interesting and the first race everyone will eagerly watch how things develop."