The implications of F1’s vote on a new points structure

The FIA, F1 and the 10 teams are set to vote on a tweak to the existing points system that has been in place since 2010. The top seven positions remain unchanged, but from eighth place down there will be a more gradual sliding scale that awards points all the way down to 12th, with just one point separating all those positions.

The existing rule on the fastest lap point, which only points finishers are eligible for, is expected to stay in place, and would also extend down to 12th position.

F1’s proposed 2025 points system

Why is there a new push to change F1’s points system?

The bottom five outfits are fighting for scraps and have to bank on any of the frontrunners hitting trouble or having an off-kilter performance, which has become more unlikely in recent years due to the near-bulletproof reliability that trademarks modern-day F1.

What would the points system have changed since 2010?

Applying the prospective 2025 system to this season, extending the points down to 12th would have allowed every team to get off the board. There are no position changes at the top of the drivers’ or constructors’ standings – more on that later – but Williams would have taken five points so far, with two apiece for Alpine and Sauber.

2024 drivers’ standings (current classification vs proposed system)

2024 constructors’ standings (current classification vs proposed system)

Moving down the seasons, Ferrari would have beaten Mercedes to second in 2023. The two giants would have finished on equal points, with Carlos Sainz’s win in Singapore swaying the duel towards the Scuderia.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6 leads 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 squad.

“Even the bottom five teams are large organisations now and it’s very difficult to explain to the outside world, to our partners, and to our fans, that we battle for a P11 that actually grants zero points,” he told Motorsport.com/Autosport.

“If you look at the level of competitiveness of the top five teams and the reliability level of the cars, it means that most of the race you’re battling theoretically for zero points, and we don’t think this is right.

“We also think it’s more meritocratic because, if you score points up until P12, you will avoid the effect where if something completely stunning happens and somebody scores a P5 or P4 in the rain, it means the other guys can stay home for 10 races.

“It’s ticking all the boxes with virtually no downside, so hopefully it will go through.”

Haas man Kevin Magnussen suggested F1 could go even further and reward every position like IndyCar and NASCAR do.

“Maybe points for everyone would be better so that you always have something to fight for,” he said. “When you’re fighting for P16 or 14 or something like that, it’d be good if there was still something to fight for. It feels pointless 1714037210.”

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01 battles with Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

On the opposite 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, Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur empathised with the smaller teams’ plight.

“I’m not against [it]. And coming from Alfa Romeo, I perfectly understand sometimes the frustration that you are doing a mega weekend, but if there is no DNF in front of you then you finish P11 and the reward is zero,” said the Frenchman.

The fact that the top teams aren’t affected has given the points tweak a possible runway to gain a majority and be approved by the F1 Commission. The FIA is also set to gain from it as teams pay the governing body licence fees based on the number of points earned the previous season, so eight extra points per weekend means the FIA would be in line for a revenue increase of over $1m.

And even if some leading team bosses were to be against it in principle, whatever their motives, granting two more points positions is perhaps unlikely to be a hill worth dying on – antagonising the smaller outfits in the process – ahead of future Concorde Agreement talks.

Are there any arguments against?

Why would people be against such an innocuous change in principle, though? If anything, two more points rewards would offer F1 fans an extra battle that is worth following. Are there any tangible downsides?

First of all, the points tweak is a very situational fix, attempting to apply a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The 50/50 split of the grid is not likely to remain in place for long, with the 2026 rules revamp expecting to blow the field apart again.

In addition, the argument that scoring more points makes teams more attractive to sponsors appears tenuous, as in relative terms nothing actually changes and the worst teams will still finish below the better ones in the constructors’ standings. Is there a tangible difference between finishing last with five points or with 15?

A more philosophical argument, though, which is sure to divide opinion, is whether or not continually expanding the points positions over the years is detracting from the essence of the sport.

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 a spotless weekend well executed. The more F1 rewards finishes outside the top 10, the more scoring points starts losing meaning, and any sense of achievement gets watered down.

Still, the latest push to expand the points system appears to have more momentum behind it than before. It is now up to the F1 Commission to make the call on whether it is just an opportunistic band-aid fix to F1’s split grid or a long-term improvement to the show as a whole.