Sebastian Vettel criticises 'absurd' F1 double points plan

Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has criticised plans to award double points for the final race of the season from 2014.

The winning driver of next year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will earn 50 points instead of 25 under the proposals.

"This is absurd and punishes those who have worked hard for a whole season," said the 26-year-old, who won the final nine races in 2013.

"Drivers, fans and experts are horrified."

Other teams and drivers are yet to comment on the plans following a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris on Monday.

Red Bull driver Vettel would have lost the 2012 title to Fernando Alonso if such rules had been in place and is far from happy.

"I value the old traditions in Formula 1 and do not understand this new rule," he told German newspaper Sport Bild. "Imagine, in the last Bundesliga [football] match of the season there was suddenly double points."

The double-points plan has been designed to increase the chances of keeping alive the battle for the title to the final grand prix of the season after Vettel won the 2013 championship with three races to spare.

Other proposals include a budget cap from 2015 and allowing drivers to choose their own racing number - from two to 99 - for their entire F1 racing career.

Previous suggestions by the sport's boss Bernie Ecclestone to improve F1's spectacle have included a medal award system for drivers and artificial rain, to spice up the on-track action., external