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F1 Points System Explained (2026)
In the F1 points system, the top 10 finishers in a Grand Prix awarding full points score: 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1. Sprint races add points for the top 8 (8 down to 1). There is no bonus point for fastest lap from 2025. Drivers' points go towards the Drivers' Championship, and both drivers' points together count for their team in the Constructors' Championship.
F1 Points Per Race (2026)
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 18 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 12 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 8 |
| 7th | 6 |
| 8th | 4 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
| 11th and below | 0 |
How many points does the F1 race winner get?
The winner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix receives 25 points. Second place gets 18 and third place gets 15. The 25-point win has been the standard since 2010, and the maximum a driver can score on a normal race weekend is 25 points (33 on a sprint weekend).
Is there still a point for fastest lap in F1?
No. The fastest-lap bonus point, awarded to a top-10 finisher from 2019 to 2024, was scrapped from the 2025 season. Setting the fastest lap no longer earns any championship points.
How does F1 sprint race scoring work?
Sprint races award points to the top 8 finishers: 8 for first, 7 for second, down to 1 for eighth. Sprints are roughly 100 km long and are held on Saturday at six Grand Prix weekends per season. Sprint points count towards both championships.
Sprint Race Points (2022–Present)
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 8 |
| 2nd | 7 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th | 1 |
Worked Example: Points on a Sprint Weekend
A driver who wins the Saturday sprint (8 points) and finishes third in Sunday's Grand Prix (15 points) leaves the weekend with 23 points. If their teammate finishes fifth in the sprint (4) and second in the race (18), the team scores 23 + 22 = 45 constructors' points. The most any single driver can score is 33 (sprint win plus race win).
Constructors' Points Explained
Teams do not earn separate points. Each constructor's total is simply the sum of points scored by both of its drivers in every sprint and Grand Prix. A team with a one-two finish in a Grand Prix scores 25 + 18 = 43 points; the most a team can score on a sprint weekend is 58 (8 + 7 + 25 + 18). See the current totals in the championship standings archive.
Tiebreakers: What Happens on Equal Points
If two drivers (or teams) finish the season on the same points, F1 uses countback: the one with more Grand Prix wins ranks higher. If wins are equal, second places are compared, then thirds, and so on down the finishing positions. If race-result countback still leaves them level, the same countback is applied to qualifying results during the season under the 2026 regulations.
Historical F1 Points Systems
The F1 points system has changed many times since 1950. The major eras:
| Era | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Positions Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–1959 | 8 | 6 | 4 | Top 5 + fastest lap |
| 1960 | 8 | 6 | 4 | Top 6 |
| 1961–1990 | 9 | 6 | 4 | Top 6 |
| 1991–2002 | 10 | 6 | 4 | Top 6 |
| 2003–2009 | 10 | 8 | 6 | Top 8 |
| 2010–2018 | 25 | 18 | 15 | Top 10 |
| 2019–2024 | 25 | 18 | 15 | Top 10 + fastest lap |
| 2025–present | 25 | 18 | 15 | Top 10 |
Points for Shortened Races
Race points depend on the distance completed by the leader. No points are awarded unless the leader completes at least two complete, consecutive laps without a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car procedure. Once that requirement is met, the following scale applies:
| Position | Under 25% | 25%–under 50% | 50%–under 75% | 75% or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 7th | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 8th | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 9th | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 10th | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sprints use a separate rule: no points below 50% of the scheduled distance; at 50% or more the normal 8-to-1 scale applies, provided the leader has completed two consecutive laps without Safety Car or VSC. When the formation lap starts behind the Safety Car, the regulations adjust the scheduled distance used for these calculations.
Source for scoring and countback: FIA 2026 General Regulatory Provisions, Articles A2.1–A2.2 (27 February 2026). Sprint scoring began in 2022; the fastest-lap bonus ended in 2025.
How the Championship Is Decided
The driver and constructor with the most points after the final round win the World Championships. Follow the live race in the current standings, see every past champion in our F1 world champions list, or learn how the grid is set in how F1 qualifying works and the race weekend format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points does P1 get in F1?
P1 in a Grand Prix earns 25 points. P1 in a sprint race earns 8 points.
How many points do you get for each position in F1?
In a Grand Prix: 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point for positions 1 to 10. Positions 11 and below score nothing.
Do sprint points count toward the championship?
Yes. Sprint points count towards both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, exactly like Grand Prix points.
When did F1 start awarding 25 points for a win?
The 25-point win was introduced in 2010, when points were extended to the top 10 finishers.
When was the fastest lap point removed?
The fastest-lap bonus point ran from 2019 to 2024 and was removed from the 2025 season onwards.
How many sprint races are there per season?
There have been six sprint weekends per season since 2023. The venues can change from year to year.
Can a driver win the championship without winning a race?
In theory yes, through consistent high finishes, but it has never happened. Keke Rosberg won the 1982 title with just one win.
How are F1 constructors' points calculated?
A team's constructors' points are the combined points of both its drivers from every sprint and Grand Prix in the season.
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