The final round of the Formula 1 World Championship will carry double points from next season.
The move is one of several changes agreed upon by the Formula One Commission and Strategy Groups this week.
The move to tweak the points system has been made to increase the likelihood of the title fight going to the final round.
The change will also apply to the constructors’ championship.
If such a system had been implemented previously, two of the last six drivers’ championship results would have been different, with Felipe Massa pipping Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and Fernando Alonso climbing ahead of Sebastian Vettel in 2012.
Also to be introduced next year will be a move to permanent numbers for each driver in the championship.
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While the #1 will remain reserved for the champion, drivers will select their own numbers for 2014 rather than the allocation working sequentially from the previous constructors’ championship standings.
This year’s drivers’ championship order will be used to resolve any disputes over the initial number allocation.
The Commission and Strategy Group also approved a proposal to introduce a budget cap for the 2015 season.
Details of how the cap will work are yet to be formulated. The FIA attempted, but ultimately failed, to introduce such a measure in 2010.
