Jenson Button supports new Formula 1 points system
Button, with the FIA trophy, won six races on his way to the 2009 world title
Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has backed plans to introduce a new points scoring system next season.
The World Motor Sport Council approved a new system that would see the winner take 25 points with 20 awarded for second and 15 for third.
"It's a great idea," Button told BBC Radio 5 live. "It's nice that you get five points over second for winning.
"That's important because we all love winning races. I won six races this year and I got just two more points."
The proposal to alter how points are awarded came from the F1 Commission, which is made up of key stakeholders from the teams, promoters, suppliers and sponsors, and chaired by president Bernie Ecclestone.
Since the last rule change in 2003, the top eight finishers earned 10, eight, six, five, four, three, two and one point respectively.
Under the new system 10 drivers will score points in each race.
In addition to 25 points for the winner, 20 for second and 15 for third, the new proposal will then hand 10, eight, six, five, three, two and one points for the drivers finishing fourth to 10th.
The plan appears to give greater reward for victory but the percentage remains the same with the runner-up scoring 80% of the winner's share and third place on the podium taking 60%.
However, the rewards are proportionately less for fourth-to-sixth spots.
Button will be defending his world title at McLaren, where he will drive alongside 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton.
The 29-year-old chose to leave Brawn, which has since been bought out by Mercedes, last month but is still enjoying a winter break before pre-season testing begins in February.
"I haven't (started yet) but I'm looking forward to that," Button added.
"It was a very difficult decision for me to leave the team I've been with for seven years.
"But I felt that we'd achieved so much together that it was time for me to look for a new challenge - and that is to race for McLaren and alongside Lewis."
It was time for me to look for a new challenge - and that is to race for McLaren and alongside Lewis
Jenson Button
Button claimed the 2009 title in his 10th year in the sport to become Britain's 10th world champion.
The Somerset-born driver says he is still savouring his victory almost two months after sealing the win at the penultimate race of the 2009 season in Brazil.
"After the last race you enjoy the celebrations and it starts to sink in," Button said.
"But then you spend weeks away from racing cars and it's just normal. I am a pretty normal person.
"When you go to award ceremonies, you feel the emotion again and you realise what you've achieved.
"You never get bored of people saying congratulations. In previous years they would come up and say 'you'll do it in the end' but now it's more of a shake of the head and a smile."
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