Damn damn damn Killa's argument has several glaring holes in it, but I can't get it down in words.
More fool me.
Somebody save me.
Mate, I'd be happy to discuss this and if you point out flaws in my logic I've got no problem to admit that I screwed it.
There are a few comments here, but nothing really gets to the point I'm making. Of course I've chosen a simple model, but, again, in principle I'm still convinced it is working as I've described it. The effect I pointed out may not be easy to make out in a real season as there are just a lot of unpredictable things happening in a race. However, that doesn't change the fact that the playing field is not level.
I personally would prefer a ballast/restrictor penalty system based on the standing in the championship and I know a real series where this has been done in the past.
That is fair in respect of that it affects everyone the same way. If you're at the very top the air gets thinner and you have to try harder to defend your position and if the standings are changing because of that someone else is affected by this exactly the same way. That increases competition, produces a tighter field and makes it less likely to get us a boring season where the outcome is predictable after the 2nd or 3rd race.
So, again, I'm not against a penalty system and compression, I would just hope it's being applied evenly.