Hamilton would have lost 2008 championship according to new F1 rules

London, Mar. 18 (ANI): British F1 sensation Lewis Hamilton would have lost his last year's championship to Felipe Massa, had the latest rules of the sport been implemented in 2008.

The drivers' crown will be decided on the number of races won. In a bid to boost risk-taking on the track, Motorsport chiefs have ditched the points system that has been in use since 1950, The Sun reports.

Hamilton, 24, was bringing his pre-season testing to an end in Spain when he heard the shock news.

The McLaren racer had already spoken out against the plan put forward by grand prix chief Bernie Ecclestone.

"It has to be the team and the driver who has done the best job over the year. We work hard as a team to win and be consistent, whether you finish first or third. It's not just who has won the most races," he said.

Ecclestone has been fighting for months to introduce a medal system in which the driver with the most golds would be declared champion.

The World Motor Sport Council decided against medals but agreed that the driver who won the most races would take the title.

But if drivers are equal on race wins the championship, which starts in Australia on Sunday week, would be decided on points rather than the number of second or third places.

"This is what I proposed, just without the second and third place awards. What it does is make drivers bloody well go for the win, rather than settle for second. It will be real racing. It's good for the fans and the sport," Ecclestone said.

Motorsport chiefs threw out a plan by the F1 Teams Association to change the points awarded to the top three to 12-9-7 instead of the current 10-8-6.

Hamilton was crowned the youngest ever champ last year by a single point from Ferrari's Felipe Massa after a thrilling final-race decider in Brazil.

Massa would have snatched the title based on greater race wins - six to five, although Hamilton would surely have changed his tactics in the final races had the new system been in use.

And that new system could boost the Brit's title hopes this year as he is expected to struggle in the opening races with the car not as quick as its main rivals. (ANI)