F1 Points System Explained: How the Championship Is Scored
F1 championships are decided by points. A race win scores 25, and the top ten finishers score 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1. A sprint winner scores 8, with points down to eighth place. The driver and the team with the most points at the end of the season win the titles.
Last updated: November 11, 2026
How many points does a driver get for a race win?
A win in a full-distance Grand Prix is worth 25 points. The table shows every scoring position. The points count for both the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | ||||||||||
| 25 | ||||||||||
| 18 | ||||||||||
| 15 | ||||||||||
| 12 | ||||||||||
| 10 | ||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||
| 1 |
Source: Article A2.2.1 of the FIA 2026 General Regulatory Provisions (Section A), column for races that complete at least 75% of the scheduled distance.
How do sprint points work?
On a sprint weekend the top eight finishers in the sprint score: 8 for first, then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for eighth (Article A2.2.2). A sprint must complete at least 50% of its scheduled distance to award points. If the leader has completed two laps but less than half the distance, nobody scores.
All six 2026 sprint weekends are over; Singapore was the last. Our guides to the F1 sprint format and the 2027 calendar cover what comes next.
How many points can a driver score in a weekend?
A driver can score up to 33 points on a sprint weekend: 8 for winning the sprint and 25 for winning the race. On a normal weekend the maximum is 25. A team can score up to 43 points in a race (25 plus 18 for a one-two) and 58 on a sprint weekend (adding 8 and 7 for a sprint one-two). Qualifying scores no points.
What happens to points if a race is shortened?
The scale depends on how much of the race the leader completes. In every case, no points are awarded unless the leader has completed at least two consecutive laps without a safety car or virtual safety car (Article A2.2.1).
| Position | Under 25% (col. 1) | 25% to under 50% (col. 2) | 50% to under 75% (col. 3) | 75% or more (col. 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | 13 | 19 | 25 |
| 2nd | 4 | 10 | 14 | 18 |
| 3rd | 3 | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| 4th | 2 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| 5th | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 6th | 4 | 6 | 8 | |
| 7th | 3 | 4 | 6 | |
| 8th | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 9th | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 10th | 1 | 1 |
The 2026 regulations use this sliding scale rather than a simple halving of points. If the leader has completed 75% of the scheduled distance, the full 25, 18, 15 scale applies.
Is there a point for the fastest lap?
No. The points tables in Article A2.2 award points only by finishing position, in the race and in the sprint.
Who counts as classified?
A driver must have covered at least 90% of the laps the winner completed, rounded down to the nearest whole lap, to be classified (Article B2.5.5 of the Sporting Regulations). A car below that mark is not classified and cannot score. That is why a driver with a damaged car often limps to the line instead of retiring.
How is the F1 championship decided?
The Drivers’ Championship goes to the driver with the highest number of points over the season. The Constructors’ Championship goes to the team with the most points, counting both cars (Article A2.1.4). A team can win the constructors’ title without winning the drivers’ title.
What happens if two drivers tie on points?
The higher place goes to whoever has the most wins. If wins are equal, the count moves to second places, then third places, and so on until a winner emerges. If that fails, the same criteria are applied to qualifying results during the season (Article A2.1.4c). The same procedure applies to teams.
If cars are tied for the same position in a race, their points are added together and shared equally. That rule is called a dead heat (Article A2.2.3).
How do you work out when a title is clinched?
A driver clinches when his lead over every rival who can still catch him is bigger than the points still available. With four races left and no sprints, 100 points remain, so a lead of more than 100 points over every rival wins the title. Our title scenarios page and the F1 standings 2026 show the live numbers.
F1 points system: frequently asked questions
A win in a full-distance race scores 25 points. Second to tenth score 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1.
The top eight score in a sprint, from 8 points for first down to 1 for eighth.
No. The points tables award points only by finishing position.
By the number of wins, then second places, then third places, and so on. If that fails, qualifying results are used.
Only if the leader completes at least 75% of the scheduled distance. Below that, a reduced scale applies, and no points are awarded unless the leader completes two consecutive laps without a safety car or virtual safety car.
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