This is how the F1 points system works

The F1 points system explained

The F1 World Championship consists of two distinct competitions:

• Formula 1 drivers championship
• Formula 1 constructors championship

Drivers who finish in the top 10 in any given race score points for both themselves and their teams. At the end of the season, the individual and team with the most points are named champions. In the event of a tie, the teams and drivers with the most wins in the season are ranked higher.

F1 points rewarded per race

Formula 1 drivers score points by finishing in the top 10. If a driver opts to change teams during a season, they retain their individual driver points, and their previous team also keeps the points scored while they were driving for them. Each F1 team runs two cars and both are able to score points. A team can achieve a maximum of 44 World Championship points per race.

A new rule introduced in 2019 grants the driver with the fastest lap during a race an extra bonus point, provided that they also finish within the top 10. Below, you'll find an overview of how the F1 points system works.

How many points are needed to win the F1 drivers championship?

There isn't a specific number of points required to win the F1 drivers' championship. According to the F1 points system above, points are awarded, and the driver with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship. If drivers end the season with the same number of points, the driver with the most wins will win the championship.

F1 sprint race points system explained

The sprint races were introduced in the 2021 season. Only the top 3 could score points with the following points system used:

• Winner: 3 points
• Second: 2 points
• Third: 1 point

In that season, there were three sprint races, but since 2023, there have been six sprint races within a season. Additionally, in 2022, the points awarded to a sprint race winner were increased to 8 points, and now the top 8 can score points. In the table below, you'll find the F1 sprint race points system.

The f1 points system history

Before the current F1 points system, there were many different points systems. For example, in the first F1 points system, only five drivers were able to score points. This increased over the years to eventually include ten drivers. Additionally, the number of points awarded per position also changed. For instance, you can view the points for the winner over the years below:

• A Grand Prix winner in 2003 earned 10 points with the points system at the time
• A Grand Prix winner in 1960 earned 8 points under the points system of that era.

The F1 points fee

After every season, the teams have to pay a certain amount of money for the points they've scored. For every point, a team has to pay $6,575. However, the constructor's champion has to pay $7,893 per point and thus has a disadvantage compared to their competitors. In 2023, Red Bull scored an immense total of 860 points, resulting in a 'bill' of $5,657,500 that had to be paid to the FIA.

Additionally, F1 drivers have to pay to extend their super license, where the number of points they scored impacts the amount of money. The standard fee for the FIA super license is €10,400, and for each championship point, €2,100 is added. This resulted in a total price of $1.2 million for Max Verstappen to extend his super license in 2023.

The current f1 points standings

In the table below, you'll find the current F1 points standings, so you're always up to date with the latest standings. This table includes the positions of all drivers/teams and their respective points accumulated throughout the season.