The FIA, F1 and the 10 teams are expected to vote on a change to the existing points system in place since 2010 for grand prix. The top seven positions remain unchanged, but from eighth place there will be a more progressive sliding scale that will award points up to 12th place, with a single point separating all of these positions.
The existing rule on the fastest lap point, for which only runners-up in the points are eligible, is expected to remain in place and would also extend up to 12th position.
The 2025 points system proposed by F1
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 (first 10 only) |
1 (first 12 only) |
Why is there a new push to change F1’s points system?
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber C44, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, the rest of the field in the first lap of the Sprint
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The bottom five teams are fighting for the remainder and must bet on one of the favorites having problems or showing off performance, which has become more unlikely in recent years due to the near-ironclad reliability that characterizes modern F1.
What has the points system changed since 2010?
Applying the 2025 prospective system to this season, extending the points up to 12th place would have allowed each team to leave the table. There is no change in position at the top of the drivers’ or constructors’ standings – more on that later – but Williams has reportedly taken five points so far, including two each from Alpine and Sauber.
2024 Driver Rankings (current ranking vs proposed system)
Manufacturer ranking 2024 (current ranking vs proposed system)
Pos |
Builder |
Points |
Pos |
Builder |
Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Red Bull |
195 |
1 |
Red Bull |
195 |
2 |
Ferrari |
151 |
2 |
Ferrari |
151 |
3 |
McLaren |
96 |
3 |
McLaren |
100 |
4 |
Mercedes |
52 |
4 |
Mercedes |
58 |
5 |
Aston Martin |
40 |
5 |
Aston Martin |
46 |
6 |
R.B. |
7 |
6 |
Haas |
17 |
7 |
Haas |
5 |
7 |
R.B. |
ten |
8 |
Williams |
0 |
8 |
Williams |
5 |
9 |
Alpine |
0 |
9 |
Alpine |
2 |
ten |
Sauber |
0 |
ten |
Sauber |
2 |
Over the seasons, Ferrari would have beaten Mercedes to second place in 2023. The two giants would have finished tied on points, with Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore tipping the duel in favor of the Scuderia.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6 ahead of Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F10 and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing RB6
Photo by: Sutton Images
What do the teams and drivers think?
It appears the move was instigated by some of the smaller teams, with RB team boss Laurent Mekies explaining why it would be a good move for his team.
“Even the bottom five teams are now big organizations and it is very difficult to explain to the outside world, to our partners and our fans, that we are fighting for an 11th place which actually gives no points,” he said. he declared to Autosport.
“If you look at the level of competitiveness of the top five teams and the level of reliability of the cars, it means that for most of the race you are theoretically fighting for zero points, and we don’t think that’s fair.
“We also think it’s more meritocratic because, if you score points up to 12th place, you’ll avoid the effect that if something completely amazing happens and someone gets a P5 or a P4 in the rain means the other guys can stay home for 10 races.
“It ticks all the boxes with virtually no downside, so I hope it passes.”
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen suggested F1 could go even further and reward each position like IndyCar and NASCAR do.
“Maybe the points would be better for everyone, so you always have something to fight for,” he said. “When you’re fighting for 16th or 14th place or something like that, it would be nice if there was still something to fight for. It seems pointless 1714039925”.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01 battles with Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
On the other side of the grid, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said he was “impartial” on the issue, and having experienced the other end of the spectrum at Alfa Romeo, the head of Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur sympathized with the plight of small teams.
“I am not against [it]. And coming from Alfa Romeo, I completely understand sometimes the frustration of doing a mega weekend, but if there is no retirement in front of you then you finish P11 and the reward is zero,” said the Frenchman .
The fact that the top teams were not affected gave the points an opportunity to change the track to gain the majority and be approved by the F1 Commission. The FIA is also expected to benefit as teams pay licensing fees to the governing body based on the number of points earned in the previous season. So, eight extra points per weekend means the FIA would be in line for a revenue increase of more than $1 million.
And even if some high-profile team leaders were opposed to it in principle, whatever their motivations, granting two additional positions is unlikely to be a hill worth dying for – thus upsetting smaller teams – before the future negotiations of the Concorde Agreement.
Are there any arguments against?
But why would people object to such a harmless change in principle? If anything, two extra points rewards would give F1 fans an extra battle worth watching. Are there any tangible disadvantages?
First of all, point tuning is a very situational solution, attempting to apply a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The 50/50 grid split is unlikely to stay in place for long, with the 2026 rules overhaul expected to blow up the field again.
Additionally, the argument that scoring more points makes teams more attractive to sponsors seems tenuous, because in relative terms nothing really changes and the worst teams will always finish below the best in the constructors’ standings. Is there a tangible difference between finishing last with five points or with 15?
A more philosophical argument, however, which will certainly divide opinion, is whether or not the continued increase in points positions over the years undermines the essence of F1.
Paul Stoddart and Mark Webber celebrate in front of their home crowd
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Even today, scoring a point is a cause for celebration for struggling teams and drivers, a just reward for an impeccable and well-executed weekend. The further F1 awards end outside the top 10, the more the points scored begin to lose their meaning and any sense of accomplishment is watered down.
The FIA, F1 and the 10 teams are expected to vote on a change to the existing points system in place since 2010 for grand prix. The top seven positions remain unchanged, but from eighth place there will be a more progressive sliding scale that will award points up to 12th place, with a single point separating all of these positions.
The existing rule on the fastest lap point, for which only runners-up in the points are eligible, is expected to remain in place and would also extend up to 12th position.
The 2025 points system proposed by F1
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 (first 10 only) |
1 (first 12 only) |
Why is there a new push to change F1’s points system?
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber C44, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, the rest of the field in the first lap of the Sprint
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The bottom five teams are fighting for the remainder and must bet on one of the favorites having problems or showing off performance, which has become more unlikely in recent years due to the near-ironclad reliability that characterizes modern F1.
What has the points system changed since 2010?
Applying the 2025 prospective system to this season, extending the points up to 12th place would have allowed each team to leave the table. There is no change in position at the top of the drivers’ or constructors’ standings – more on that later – but Williams has reportedly taken five points so far, including two each from Alpine and Sauber.
2024 Driver Rankings (current ranking vs proposed system)
Manufacturer ranking 2024 (current ranking vs proposed system)
Pos |
Builder |
Points |
Pos |
Builder |
Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Red Bull |
195 |
1 |
Red Bull |
195 |
2 |
Ferrari |
151 |
2 |
Ferrari |
151 |
3 |
McLaren |
96 |
3 |
McLaren |
100 |
4 |
Mercedes |
52 |
4 |
Mercedes |
58 |
5 |
Aston Martin |
40 |
5 |
Aston Martin |
46 |
6 |
R.B. |
7 |
6 |
Haas |
17 |
7 |
Haas |
5 |
7 |
R.B. |
ten |
8 |
Williams |
0 |
8 |
Williams |
5 |
9 |
Alpine |
0 |
9 |
Alpine |
2 |
ten |
Sauber |
0 |
ten |
Sauber |
2 |
Over the seasons, Ferrari would have beaten Mercedes to second place in 2023. The two giants would have finished tied on points, with Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore tipping the duel in favor of the Scuderia.
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6 ahead of Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F10 and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing RB6
Photo by: Sutton Images
What do the teams and drivers think?
It appears the move was instigated by some of the smaller teams, with RB team boss Laurent Mekies explaining why it would be a good move for his team.
“Even the bottom five teams are now big organizations and it is very difficult to explain to the outside world, to our partners and our fans, that we are fighting for an 11th place which actually gives no points,” he said. he declared to Autosport.
“If you look at the level of competitiveness of the top five teams and the level of reliability of the cars, it means that for most of the race you are theoretically fighting for zero points, and we don’t think that’s fair.
“We also think it’s more meritocratic because, if you score points up to 12th place, you’ll avoid the effect that if something completely amazing happens and someone gets a P5 or a P4 in the rain means the other guys can stay home for 10 races.
“It ticks all the boxes with virtually no downside, so I hope it passes.”
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen suggested F1 could go even further and reward each position like IndyCar and NASCAR do.
“Maybe the points would be better for everyone, so you always have something to fight for,” he said. “When you’re fighting for 16th or 14th place or something like that, it would be nice if there was still something to fight for. It seems pointless 1714039925”.
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01 battles with Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
On the other side of the grid, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said he was “impartial” on the issue, and having experienced the other end of the spectrum at Alfa Romeo, the head of Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur sympathized with the plight of small teams.
“I am not against [it]. And coming from Alfa Romeo, I completely understand sometimes the frustration of doing a mega weekend, but if there is no retirement in front of you then you finish P11 and the reward is zero,” said the Frenchman .
The fact that the top teams were not affected gave the points an opportunity to change the track to gain the majority and be approved by the F1 Commission. The FIA is also expected to benefit as teams pay licensing fees to the governing body based on the number of points earned in the previous season. So, eight extra points per weekend means the FIA would be in line for a revenue increase of more than $1 million.
And even if some high-profile team leaders were opposed to it in principle, whatever their motivations, granting two additional positions is unlikely to be a hill worth dying for – thus upsetting smaller teams – before the future negotiations of the Concorde Agreement.
Are there any arguments against?
But why would people object to such a harmless change in principle? If anything, two extra points rewards would give F1 fans an extra battle worth watching. Are there any tangible disadvantages?
First of all, point tuning is a very situational solution, attempting to apply a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The 50/50 grid split is unlikely to stay in place for long, with the 2026 rules overhaul expected to blow up the field again.
Additionally, the argument that scoring more points makes teams more attractive to sponsors seems tenuous, because in relative terms nothing really changes and the worst teams will always finish below the best in the constructors’ standings. Is there a tangible difference between finishing last with five points or with 15?
A more philosophical argument, however, which will certainly divide opinion, is whether or not the continued increase in points positions over the years undermines the essence of F1.
Paul Stoddart and Mark Webber celebrate in front of their home crowd
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Even today, scoring a point is a cause for celebration for struggling teams and drivers, a just reward for an impeccable and well-executed weekend. The further F1 awards end outside the top 10, the more the points scored begin to lose their meaning and any sense of accomplishment is watered down.