Historical past of the F1 factors system with proposed construction for 2025

F1 has modified its factors system a number of occasions through the years, with the primary construction utilized in 1950 wanting very totally different to what it’s now. 

There may be even one other change on the playing cards for the 2025 season and a decision over if to introduce it or not will be made later this year – as Autosport solely revealed. 

New F1 factors system

There will likely be extra points-paying positions underneath F1’s new construction, ought to the mentioned system obtain the required assist to get launched.  

It has been proposed that factors needs to be awarded to the highest 12 finishers of a grand prix, somewhat than 10, as a major hole emerged between the highest and backside half of the championship in 2024. 

Within the opening 5 grands prix Alpine, Sauber and Williams all failed to attain, whereas 33 factors separated fifth-placed Aston Martin and RB in sixth.  

The smaller groups due to this fact argued {that a} change is required to make sure factors are extra broadly distributed. For it to be granted, 5 of the present 10 groups have to vote in favour and, regardless of it not being unanimous, this shouldn’t be an issue as many high constructors aren’t opposing it.  

This can be as a result of new system having a minimal influence on the battle for the general championship. Below it, the highest seven positions will stay as precious as earlier than with eighth onwards simply receiving a slight change.  

The change will even be certain that races change into extra precious for slower groups, as proper now they’re more likely to have frequent non-scores. 

RB workforce principal Laurent Mekies advised Autosport: “The underside 5 groups are massive organisations now and it is very troublesome to clarify to the surface world, to our companions, and to our followers, that we battle for a P11 that really grants zero factors. 

“Should you take a look at the extent of competitiveness of the highest 5 groups and the reliability degree of the automobiles, it implies that many of the race you are battling theoretically for zero factors, and we do not assume that is proper.” 

It would additionally reward constant finishes all through a season somewhat than fluke outcomes which may determine a place within the championship. Yuki Tsunoda, for instance, completed both eleventh or twelfth six occasions in 2023 but that degree of consistency was by no means rewarded. 

Below the proposed system, these six outcomes would have scored factors inflicting AlphaTauri – now RB – to complete above Williams within the constructors’ championship.  

Mekies added: “We additionally assume it is extra meritocratic as a result of, for those who rating factors up till P12, you’ll keep away from the impact the place if one thing utterly beautiful occurs and someone scores a P5 or P4 within the rain, it means the opposite guys can keep house for 10 races.” 

Not all people is in favour of the change although, as ex-F1-driver-turned-commentator Martin Brundle posted: “Factors should be onerous gained and treasured. Valued. Not some form of fortunate dip the place everybody wins a prize.” 

Martin Brundle, Sky F1, chats with Carlos Sainz Jr

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

The proposed system may have no influence on the dash race, with a sliding scale of 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 nonetheless to be in use.  

F1 world champions if the proposed factors system had all the time been used 

The proposed system will mark the thirtieth change to F1’s factors construction since its inaugural season in 1950. Again then, F1 used a scale of 8-6-4-3-2 earlier than switching to 9 factors for a victory in 1961 after which 10 in 1991, whereas a win has been price 25 factors since 2010. 

Up till 1990, F1 additionally used a dropped factors format the place not each end result counted in the direction of the championship – in 1950, for instance, solely a driver’s 4 finest finishes have been recognised. It assorted all through the years and in some situations, a driver grew to become champion regardless of scoring fewer factors than a rival. 

In 1964, for instance, Graham Hill scored another level than John Surtees, but the latter grew to become champion as a result of Hill had his factors end in Belgium dropped from the standings. This meant solely 39 of Hill’s factors counted versus 40 for Surtees. 

It occurred once more in 1988 when Alain Prost scored 11 extra factors than Ayrton Senna, but the Brazilian grew to become champion as a result of he had 14 fewer factors dropped than his McLaren team-mate.  

So, if the proposed system had all the time been used, many championship outcomes would have completed otherwise – for instance, 1964 and 1988. 

This implies Prost would be part of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton as a seven-time world champion, having taken a title from Senna, the 1983 championship from Nelson Piquet and Niki Lauda’s 1984 crown. 

Alain Prost, Williams FW15C Renault.

Photograph by: Motorsport Images

Elsewhere, James Hunt wouldn’t be a world champion because the 1976 title would belong to Lauda. Eddie Irvine can be the 1999 world champion and never Mika Hakkinen, whereas Damon Hill would have two titles after claiming the 1994 championship on high of the 1996 crown that he truly sealed. 

Regardless of shedding the 1994 championship to Hill, Schumacher would nonetheless have seven titles as a result of the 1997 crown would have gone to him and never Jacques Villeneuve. 

Carlos Reutemann additionally turns into the 1981 world champion as an alternative of Piquet whereas Jacky Ickx takes the 1970 title off Jochen Rindt, who died at that season’s fourth-to-last spherical. 

Additionally, Alberto Ascari can be a triple world champion after successful the 1951 title as an alternative of Juan Manuel Fangio, which means the Argentine has 4 titles.  

F1’s present factors system (2022 – current)

F1 has used its present factors system for the reason that 2022 season when it trialled a brand new format for the dash race. The dash race debuted in 2021 the place a scale of simply 3-2-1 was given to the highest three finishers.  

However for 2022, that sliding scale was elevated to 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 which means the dash race grew to become extra precious for a lot of the grid. The present grand prix scale of 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 has been used since 2010 although, as F1 needed to extend the worth of a victory as a result of beforehand simply two factors was the distinction between first and second underneath a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 format.  

The system launched in 2010 then acquired a controversial addition in 2014, as F1 provided double factors for the Abu Dhabi season finale when Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been fiercely battling for the championship. 

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, 1st Place, arrives in Parc Ferme after securing the win and the 2014 World Champion

Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

Fortunately, it had no influence on the championship battle as Hamilton would have gained regardless, nevertheless it was subsequently scrapped for 2015. F1 then tweaked the format once more in 2019 however this time proved extra profitable, because the quickest lap bonus level returned for the primary time since 1959 and it stays in use right now.

The 2022 season additionally noticed F1 revamp its diminished factors system. At the moment, F1 has two hours of observe time inside a three-hour window to finish the scheduled distance of a grand prix. However, for differing elements whether or not it’s a security automobile or sluggish laps and so forth, typically a full race can’t be accomplished throughout the time restrict. 

So, if observe time hits two hours, then the grand prix finishes on the finish of the subsequent full lap and relying on how a lot of the gap has been accomplished, a sure proportion of factors will get awarded. 

For instance, if two laps or fewer are accomplished then zero factors are given. 1 / 4 of factors will likely be awarded if a grand prix completes as much as 25% of its scheduled distance, whereas it’s half factors for 26-50%. Lastly, three-quarters of factors will likely be awarded if 51-75% of the scheduled distance is completed, whereas something above that sees full factors get awarded. 

This alteration got here after the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was a two-lap procession behind the protection automobile as a result of heavy rain made situations unsafe. Regardless of that, half factors have been nonetheless awarded as a result of all F1 wanted on the time was to finish two laps – it didn’t matter if situations have been inexperienced or not.

F1 world champions if present factors system had all the time been used 

F1’s world champions checklist would additionally look very totally different had the present system been used since 1950. Below this technique, Prost can be a six-time world champion with him taking the 1984 crown off Lauda and the 1989 championship from Senna. 

Meaning, not like the proposed system, Piquet stays a three-time world champion because the 1981 championship additionally doesn’t go to Reutemann. The opposite adjustments stay the identical as what they’re underneath the proposed system.

F1 factors system prices 

Purple Bull dominated the 2023 season by successful a record-breaking 21 of twenty-two grands prix, but such unprecedented success didn’t come with out its value. It meant Purple Bull paid the FIA $7,445,817 to compete within the 2024 season, which is the best entry price ever given by an F1 constructor. 

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool

It is because a workforce should pay cash for each level it scores throughout the season. At the moment, a degree is price $6575 for 9 of 10 groups, whereas the constructors’ champions should pay $7893 per level. This implies Purple Bull gave the FIA $6,787,980 on high of the $657,837 base price for scoring 860 factors in 2023.  

Purple Bull due to this fact paid nearly double what Mercedes did, because the 2023 runners-up gave $3,347,012 for entry into the 2024 F1 season with last-placed Haas giving the FIA the least at $736,737. 

Such a system was launched in 2013 as a part of a revised Concorde Settlement the place the bottom price began at $500,000 plus $5000 per level scored, with the constructors’ champion paying $6000 however inflation has since induced it to rise.  

So, if the proposed system will get launched, the FIA ought to obtain more money from groups coming into the 2026 season resulting from extra positions providing factors. It shouldn’t have an excessive amount of of an influence on the larger groups, nevertheless it actually will on the slower constructors who’ve a smaller price range as a result of now they are going to pay extra to enter the championship.   

The desk under exhibits what groups would have paid for the 2024 season had the proposed system been in use for 2023. 

The desk under exhibits what groups would have paid for the 2024 season had the proposed system been in use for 2023. 

Historical past of F1’s factors system