Formula 1 standings are a vital part of the sport – both for drivers and teams. Every point earned throughout the season counts towards the championship, and the driver with the highest tally at the end of the campaign is crowned champion. But there are a lot of rules that make up the F1 points system, with variations in point allocations for different races, shortened grand prix distances and even if a race is run behind the safety car.
A driver can only earn a maximum of 25 points for winning a grand prix, while the second-placed driver receives 18 and the third receives 15. The number of points decreases on a sliding scale down to 10th place, which is worth just one point. Sometimes there is a short sprint race at the end of the grand prix, and in these cases, each driver can score up to eight points depending on their finishing position.
There is only ever going to be one world champion, but the battle for it can be a fiercely fought affair between the drivers of each team. Sometimes, this means drivers – often grudgingly – will have to sacrifice their own race by allowing their quicker team mate to pass them. It could be as simple as letting them choose the best pit stop strategy, or letting them take the optimum tyre allocation for the race.
The top teams also fight to win the Constructors’ Championship, known as the FIA World Constructors’ Championship, which is awarded to the team with the most points across all of the season’s races. It is a title that has huge significance in the sport, and with prize money distributed to teams based on their championship finishing position, it can have major financial implications.