If you've just started watching Formula One, you may be wondering, how do they determine who the winner is? How are points allocated in each race?
Even if you are a seasoned Formula One fan, you still get surprises every now and again. The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix is a good example of this. In Formula One, winners are determined using a point system. This applies to both the winning driver and team, and the driver and team with the most points at the end of the season are declared the World Champion and the Constructors’ World Champion.
The current system has the first ten drivers awarded. The first driver is given 25 points, number two gets 18 points, number three 15, four gets 12, and five gets 10, this is then followed by 8,6,4,2, and number ten gets 1 point.
However, the FIA has been introducing different point systems for special circumstances. Earlier, we mentioned the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. This race had points awarded based on how the drivers qualified for the race, with the first ten drivers being awarded half points. This was because the race failed to proceed because of a heavy downpour.
The sport has also seen the introduction of new racing styles; one of these new styles is the Sprint races. During these sprint races, which are shortened versions of the actual race during qualifying points, are awarded to the first three drivers. The first driver is awarded three points. The second driver is given two points, and the third is given one point.
Now that you at least have a bit of insight into how the Formula One point system works let us dive deeper into this award system to get a better understanding. Here is how the Formula One Point System works.
The Points System History
The Formula One point system was introduced in 1950. This was the first Formula season under the FIA watch. This season started on 13 May 1950 and ended on 3 September the same year with seven races summing up the entire season.
Points from this season all the way through to the 1959 season had the top five drivers awarded points, plus a bonus point for the driver with the fastest lap. The first five drivers got 8, 6, 4, 3, and 2 points respectively and 1 point for the fastest lap.
In 1960, the FIA changed things and had both the drivers and the teams awarded points. They added an extra driver to the award chart. This saw the first six drivers be awarded 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point. This applied to the teams as well, and the points were used to determine the Constructor’s champion. It was during this time that the FIA got rid of the fastest lap point.
The next year the system changed. This saw the first six drivers be awarded 9,6, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point each. This point system went on for 29 years. In 1992, the point system changed again. This had the first six drivers get 10,6, 4, 3, 2, and one point, respectively. The fastest lap point was still omitted at this time. This system lasted for 11 years before being changed in 2003.
At the start of the 2003 season, the FIA adjusted the system and included two more drivers to the points. This had the first eight drivers and the first eight teams awarded. The points that were given to the first eight drivers and teams were 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. This system went on for six years before being changed in 2010.
New Age Of The F1 Points System
The 2010-point system saw the awarding of points to the first ten drivers and teams. These points were distributed across the board differently, seeing that they had been increased. The first ten drivers were given 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1. This point system went on for eight years before things changed in 2019.
The 2019-point system is currently being used. This system has the first ten drivers awarded 25,18,15,12,10,8,6,4,2, and 1. An extra point is given to the driver with the fastest lap as long as the driver is the points. Meaning the driver has to be in the top ten positions to bag a point for the fastest lap.
Over time we have seen special point systems. In 2014, the FIA awarded double points for the first ten drivers but did not give any points for the fastest lap. The top ten drivers received 50, 36, 30, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, and 2 points, respectively. The introduction of sprint races has also seen the addition of points to the first three drivers. This has the drivers scoring 28, 20, and 16 points, respectively.