The Formula 1 points system from 1950 to today

(Motorsport-Total.com) – The development of the points system in Formula 1 from 1950 to today is an exciting example of the adaptation of the rules to the changing needs and challenges of motorsport.

Over the decades, the points system has been revised several times to promote competitiveness and increase the incentive for consistent performance. Here is a detailed overview of this development.

1950-1959: The original points system

When the Formula One World Championship was launched in 1950, there was a simple points system. Points were only awarded to the first five drivers in each race and to the driver with the fastest lap. The distribution was as follows:

1st place: 8 points 2nd place: 6 points 3rd place: 4 points 4th place: 3 points 5th place: 2 points Fastest lap: 1 point

This system was designed to give high value to the race win, while the fastest race lap was also worth an additional point. For multiple drivers with identical times, the additional point was awarded for the fastest race lap among those drivers.

It was common practice for only a limited number of a driver’s best results per season to be counted towards the championship, giving more weight to exceptional individual performances and minimising the impact of retirements. In the first years with this discard rule, only a driver’s best four results counted, but from 1953 onwards it was the best five.

1960-1966: First changes

In 1960, the system was slightly modified. The point for the fastest lap was abolished. Instead, points were awarded up to sixth place, with the winner receiving nine points and the sixth-placed driver receiving one. This led to the following distribution:

1st place: 9 points 2nd place: 6 points 3rd place: 4 points 4th place: 3 points 5th place: 2 points 6th place: 1 point

This meant that a win was given even greater weight. A rule was also introduced whereby only a certain number of races were counted towards the championship ranking, which was varied in the 1960s.

In the early 1960s, the best five results of a racing season per driver again counted, later this was extended to the six best.

1967-1990: Fine-tuning and continuous development

In the late 1960s, the rules were further adjusted to make the sport more balanced. From 1967, the best five results from the first half of the season and the best four from the second half counted to make the championship decision more exciting.

This rule has been adjusted several times to ensure that the successes of a driver who dominated the second half of the season were appropriately reflected in the classification.

In the 1970s, the trend continued to include more races in a season in the championship ranking. This meant that a driver’s consistency over an entire season was better rewarded. From 1991 onwards, there were no more discarded results: all Grands Prix counted towards the overall World Championship ranking.

1991-2002: More points for the winner

In 1991, the points system was adjusted again to emphasize the value of a race win. The points distribution was now as follows:

1st place: 10 points 2nd place: 6 points 3rd place: 4 points 4th place: 3 points 5th place: 2 points 6th place: 1 point

This change was a significant step as there was now an even greater gap between first and second place. The aim was to give the driver more motivation to drive for victory rather than for safe points positions. This led to more intense battles at the front and more drama in the races.

2003-2009: Wider distribution of points

In 2003, the points system was significantly revised to give more drivers the chance to score points and to increase competition in the middle of the field. Points were now awarded up to eighth place, with the following distribution:

1st place: 10 points 2nd place: 8 points 3rd place: 6 points 4th place: 5 points 5th place: 4 points 6th place: 3 points 7th place: 2 points 8th place: 1 point

This change was based on making the championship more exciting by giving more drivers the opportunity to score points and climb into the overall standings. This increased the importance of midfield battles, which increased interest in the races overall.

2010-2020: Drastic increase in points

At the beginning of the 2010s, the points system was further significantly adjusted to better reflect the growing field of starters and the demands of modern motorsport. The points distribution was now as follows:

1st place: 25 points 2nd place: 18 points 3rd place: 15 points 4th place: 12 points 5th place: 10 points 6th place: 8 points 7th place: 6 points 8th place: 4 points 9th place: 2 points 10th place: 1 point

This system resulted in a significant expansion of the points scale and created a greater difference between the placings, especially in the second half of the top 10. It also gave more drivers the opportunity to finish in the points, which affected the dynamics of the race and made the entire field more involved in the battle for points.

In 2014, double points were awarded for the first time at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. This rule only applied to the last race of the season in order to give it greater importance and keep the suspense in the title fight high until the end.

The win now earned 50 points instead of the usual 25. The remaining placings also received double the number of points, so 36 points for second place, 30 for third and so on. However, many felt that the rule was unfair. Due to strong criticism, it was abolished after just one season.

To date: Further adjustments and bonus points

In the recent past, there have been additional regulations to supplement the points system and make it even more differentiated. These include:

Bonus point for the fastest lap: Since 2019, a bonus point has been awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap in the race, provided he finishes the race in the top 10. This rule is intended to encourage drivers to continue to perform at their best in the final laps of a race.

Sprint races: In 2021, Formula 1 introduced a new format – the Sprint. This is a shorter race that initially determined the starting grid for the main Grand Prix and in which the top three drivers received additional points.

However, the format has been revised several times since its introduction. There is now a separate qualifying for the sprint and points are awarded up to eighth place (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1). The sprint races take place at selected Grands Prix and are intended to enhance the race weekend and provide additional excitement.

Half points: In the event that a race covers less than 75 percent of the scheduled race distance due to adverse circumstances such as extreme weather conditions, a system has been introduced to halve the points.

This happened after the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where only a few laps were driven behind the safety car due to rain, but full points were still awarded. The rule is intended to ensure that the points awarded are proportional to the actual race distance driven.

Conclusion

The points system in Formula 1 has continuously evolved over the years to make the sport more exciting and better reward the drivers’ performance.

From a simple system that only considered the top five, it has evolved into a more sophisticated system that takes into account the value of a win, consistency over a season and performance in special situations (such as the fastest lap). The evolution of the system reflects the increasing complexity of motorsport and the demands for fairness and competition.