The discussions will take place when the teams join FIA and F1 management for a regular F1 commission meeting in Geneva and via video conference, as they debate a range of topics relating to technical and sporting matters.
One item that was highlighted in the F1 Commission’s agenda, which was distributed ahead of the meeting, is a potential change to F1’s points structure.
The proposed idea is that the points will be distributed to the 12 best drivers, rather than the first 10, as has been the case since 2010.
To ensure minimal impact on the fight for championship glory, the proposal is not to upset the points on offer at the front of the pack.
Instead, if the plan gains support, the top seven finishing positions in the race will remain unchanged, with only the points offered from 8th place onwards being changed, as shown in the table below.
Final position | Current points | Points offered |
1 | 25 | 25 |
2 | 18 | 18 |
3 | 15 | 15 |
4 | 12 | 12 |
5 | ten | ten |
6 | 8 | 8 |
7 | 6 | 6 |
8 | 4 | 5 |
9 | 2 | 4 |
ten | 1 | 3 |
11 | 0 | 2 |
12 | 0 | 1 |
Fastest lap | 1 (Top 10 only) | 1 (Top 12 only) |
Autosport understands that an expansion of points on offer has come about following lobbying from smaller teams who believe it would be an improvement for them and for F1 if points were more widely distributed.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
This would add value to teams fighting for lower positions by winning points, rather than frequent non-scores which may be possible nowadays due to the pace of the top five teams.
After four races so far this season, three teams – Alpine, Williams and Sauber – have failed to score any points due to the near-lockout the top five teams have on the top 10 places.
The change would also reward consistent performances throughout the season in terms of consistent points on one-off good shots.
Currently, teams can find themselves losing out in a Constructors’ Championship battle with a rival if there is a freak race where their competitor achieves a good one-off result.
The plan to keep the points for the top positions unchanged is a way of ensuring the support of the leading teams, who were previously reluctant to make changes to the structure – particularly with the payment of the FIA entry fee for each point scored.
Although it is understood that the proposal is not expected to attract unanimous support, it only needs six of the ten current teams to support it next week for it to be introduced for next season.
Changes to the F1 points structure are not common, having only been altered four times since 1990.
In 1991, F1 introduced a 10/6/4/3/2/1 system, before this was changed in 2003 when a revision was made to 10/8/6/5/4/3 /2/1.
In 2010, the current top 10 system of 25/18/15/12/10/8/6/4/2/1 was introduced, while a point was added for fastest lap in 2019 for any driver who also finished in the top. ten.
The discussions will take place when the teams join FIA and F1 management for a regular F1 commission meeting in Geneva and via video conference, as they debate a range of topics relating to technical and sporting matters.
One item that was highlighted in the F1 Commission’s agenda, which was distributed ahead of the meeting, is a potential change to F1’s points structure.
The proposed idea is that the points will be distributed to the 12 best drivers, rather than the first 10, as has been the case since 2010.
To ensure minimal impact on the fight for championship glory, the proposal is not to upset the points on offer at the front of the pack.
Instead, if the plan gains support, the top seven finishing positions in the race will remain unchanged, with only the points offered from 8th place onwards being changed, as shown in the table below.
Final position | Current points | Points offered |
1 | 25 | 25 |
2 | 18 | 18 |
3 | 15 | 15 |
4 | 12 | 12 |
5 | ten | ten |
6 | 8 | 8 |
7 | 6 | 6 |
8 | 4 | 5 |
9 | 2 | 4 |
ten | 1 | 3 |
11 | 0 | 2 |
12 | 0 | 1 |
Fastest lap | 1 (Top 10 only) | 1 (Top 12 only) |
Autosport understands that an expansion of points on offer has come about following lobbying from smaller teams who believe it would be an improvement for them and for F1 if points were more widely distributed.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, the rest of the field at the start of the Sprint
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
This would add value to teams fighting for lower positions by winning points, rather than frequent non-scores which may be possible nowadays due to the pace of the top five teams.
After four races so far this season, three teams – Alpine, Williams and Sauber – have failed to score any points due to the near-lockout the top five teams have on the top 10 places.
The change would also reward consistent performances throughout the season in terms of consistent points on one-off good shots.
Currently, teams can find themselves losing out in a Constructors’ Championship battle with a rival if there is a freak race where their competitor achieves a good one-off result.
The plan to keep the points for the top positions unchanged is a way of ensuring the support of the leading teams, who were previously reluctant to make changes to the structure – particularly with the payment of the FIA entry fee for each point scored.
Although it is understood that the proposal is not expected to attract unanimous support, it only needs six of the ten current teams to support it next week for it to be introduced for next season.
Changes to the F1 points structure are not common, having only been altered four times since 1990.
In 1991, F1 introduced a 10/6/4/3/2/1 system, before this was changed in 2003 when a revision was made to 10/8/6/5/4/3 /2/1.
In 2010, the current top 10 system of 25/18/15/12/10/8/6/4/2/1 was introduced, while a point was added for fastest lap in 2019 for any driver who also finished in the top. ten.