Hamilton hits out at rule changes

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World champion Lewis Hamilton has criticised the rule changes introduced into Formula 1 this week.

Governing body the FIA changed the points system to award the world title to the driver with most wins and wants to instigate huge costs cuts in 2010.

"It's a shame what's happening to F1," the McLaren driver said.

"It's hard to believe these recent decisions will improve things for the trackside spectators and TV viewers, who should always be our priority."

Hamilton said the FIA should pay more attention to the wishes of the teams, who for the first time in the history of F1 are presenting a united front in trying to change the sport for the better.

The FIA's vision for the future of F1 is at odds with that of the teams.

Hamilton, speaking in a statement issued by McLaren, added: "Whatever the points system, I know that all F1 drivers will always race our hearts out. "For the first time in recent years we have the teams, drivers, sponsors and fans all working together for the good of our sport - now we just need the governing bodies to listen to us and help us.

"F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and that's what we all love about it; we should all be working together to maintain that."

BBC Sport understands Hamilton's remarks are aimed at the decision to impose an optional budget cap of £30m in 2010 as much as they are at the change to the points system.

The 24-year-old would have lost last year's world title if the new points system had been in place on the basis that Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had won one more race.

The budget-cap idea for 2010 was proposed by FIA president Max Mosley and approved by his organisation's world council on Tuesday.

Teams can choose to operate under the budget cap, but have more technical freedom to develop their cars and engines.

Alternatively, they can continue to spend what they want but operate under this year's more restrictive regulations.

The F1 teams association (Fota) expressed "disappointment and concern" with the financial changes.

Fota is not concerned about the modification to the points system - but is implacably opposed to the £30m budget cap.

The teams are committed to budget cuts, which they accept are necessary because of the global financial crisis.

It has already promised to impose its own 50% cut for 2010, bringing the budget of a competitive team down to about £140-150m - a reduction it considers to be sufficient.

It wants F1 to continue to limit costs; to improve the spectacle for the TV audience and spectators, to develop new environmental initiatives; to increase the transfer of those technologies to road cars and to maintain and improve safety.

It is trying to instigate a dialogue with the FIA so was unhappy to have the latest measures imposed.

Because of the complexity involved, the teams are particularly concerned by Mosley's suggestion that the FIA would alter the rules governing the cost-capped cars to ensure they remain competitive with the ones operating with bigger budgets.

"We will make sure these advantages [of a bigger budget] do no more than balance the disadvantages the cost-capped teams will have because of their very restricted budgets," Mosley said in a statement.

"We will balance the median performances by adjusting the cost-capped cars should this prove necessary."

Mosley insists that his proposals do not hinder technical innovation.

"These rules will encourage clever engineering - success will come to the teams with the best ideas, not only the teams with the most money," he said.