FIA backs down on rule change

LONDON – Formula One’s ruling body backed down Friday and agreed to put off a new points system for the sport until next season after the teams objected.

The Formula One Teams’ Association said FIA’s decision this week that the championship will go to the driver with the most race wins instead of highest points total was invalid, prompting the governing body to reverse course.

“If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010,” FIA said in a statement just hours after the teams announced their objection.

The U-turn came just over a week before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 29, heading off any possible team boycott. (AP)