Abu Dhabi: Formula One legend Alain Prost is vigorously opposed to the final grand prix of the season, in Abu Dhabi, offering double-points to the winner for the first time.
However, Prost also expressed his love of the capital’s Yas Marina Circuit, which will host the F1 finale between November 21 and 23, praising its special ambience.
The venue will celebrate its sixth grand prix since its inauguration in 2009 by being the scene of a potential championship decider between Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, the Briton leading the German by just 17 points with three races to go.
But Prost told Gulf News in an exclusive interview that he doesn’t “like it at all” that 50 points, as opposed to the normal 25, will be on offer for the winner.
The Frenchman said: “From the beginning, I always said that I don’t like that at all. I don’t think it’s good to have this kind of artificial rule.
“But, when it is decided, you need to stay positive, although if you asked me to vote for it, I would never do it. Everybody is talking about the double points, though, which could keep the suspense going until the very end.
“But, on the other hand, is it good for the sport having just one race having more importance than the others?”
Prost says he does not want to miss the Abu Dhabi GP, however, and is planning to fly there straight after his commitments with the E.Dams Renault Formula E team, who will be racing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the day before.
“I love it,” he said. “I honestly love to go there. It will be really nice. I like the track. I like the way they have done it. I’ve been every year except the first year. All the other years I could see the importance of the general ambience around the track and around the race.”
He added: “It’s dark [when the race finishes] and, with the lights, it’s much, much better when it’s dark. With the ambience, I am not just talking about the concerts afterwards, but it really is an event. It’s completely different to other emerging race tracks such as in Japan, Korea or India.”
