Drivers and teams accumulate points from every race weekend, with the total amount each earns being determined based on the weekend’s events and their performance.
Drivers and teams accumulate points from every race weekend, with the total amount each earns being determined based on the weekend’s events and their performance.
A typical race weekend consists of a Qualifying race which determines starting position for the Grand Prix. While strong performance in Qualifying is critical, it isn’t worth any points. The Grand Prix, however, is.
Drivers are awarded points based on how they finish in the race. The total number of points awarded for placement is 101, with a single bonus point available to the driver who sets the fastest lap time.
Simply put, drivers finishing in the top 10 positions (first through tenth) earn points and all other drivers walk away empty handed.
Points are awarded on a sliding scale, with first place earning 25 points, 18 for second, 15 for third, all the way down to just 1 point for tenth place.
Points are awarded on a sliding scale, with first place earning 25 points, 18 for second, 15 for third, all the way down to just 1 point for tenth place.
In addition to points for placement, the Grand Prix also awards 1 point to the driver who sets the fastest lap time during the race. The only catch is that this driver also has to finish in the top 10, otherwise the point is forfeit.
Dotted throughout the season are three Sprint races which offer additional points for top-performing drivers. Like the Grand Prix, the number of points awarded decreases as drivers place farther from first. Distinct from the Grand Prix, however, is that a Sprint awards fewer points - just 36 to the top 8 drivers - and there is no fastest lap bonus.
Weather or other issues can disrupt races from time-to-time. The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix came to a halt after just two laps behind a safety car due to torrential rain.
As a result, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which governs Formula 1, implemented rules which reduce the number of points awarded if a race doesn’t run the full scheduled distance in the time allotted.
Points earned from Sprints and each Grand Prix are tallied at the end of the season to award two World Championship titles:
For drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are currently tied with 7 World Drivers’ Championships each.
For constructors, Ferrari leads with 15 World Constructors’ Championships, earning their last title in 2007.