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At a glance
Under the 2026 FIA rules, a full Grand Prix awards 25–18–15–12–10–8–6–4–2–1 points to the top ten. A Sprint awards 8–1 to its top eight; shortened sessions use separate thresholds.
- Full Grand Prix25–1top ten score
- Sprint8–1top eight score
- Season events24 max2026 championship regulation
- Fastest lap bonus0removed from 2025 onwards
F1 points are a rule, not a timeless measure of performance. The points attached to a finishing position have changed, Sprints add a separate result, and a suspended Grand Prix can use a reduced scale. As checked on 2 October 2026, the FIA’s 2026 General Provisions set out the point tables in Section A, Article A2.2. The current Sporting Regulations are in Section B, Issue 09, dated 1 October 2026. This guide explains those rules; historical season totals still need to be read under the rules of their year.
Grand Prix points depend on distance completed
For a normal-length Grand Prix, the top ten receive 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 points. Those points go to both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships; for constructors, the results of both cars count. Positions outside the top ten score no points under the ordinary scale. If the classification is tied for a position, the FIA rules say the points for the tied positions are added together and shared equally.
| Position | At least 2 laps, <25% | 25%–<50% | 50%–<75% | At least 75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 distance is measured from the leader’s completed laps relative to the scheduled race distance. No points are awarded unless the leader completes at least two consecutive laps without a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car procedure. The table is intentionally not a simple multiplier: at 25–<50%, for example, fourth place earns six points, while sixth earns four. A normal full distance uses the final column.
Sprint points are a separate result
A Sprint’s top eight score 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points. If at least two clean laps are completed but the leader has covered less than half the scheduled Sprint distance, no Sprint points are awarded; at 50% or more, the ordinary Sprint scale applies. Sprint points go to the same two championship tables, but they should be reported separately when comparing Sunday race performance.
| Sprint finish | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 8 |
| 2nd | 7 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th | 1 |
For example, a driver who finishes third in a full Grand Prix earns 15 points. If that driver also finishes second in a Sprint, the event contributes seven more, for 22 before any other result or penalty. These are two classifications, not one 22-point race result. Since 2025 the fastest lap has carried no bonus point: the FIA approved removal of that award in its 2024 WMSC decisions, effective for 2025.
Reading a championship total carefully
Season totals combine the applicable Grand Prix and Sprint scores, then rank drivers or teams. A points table therefore depends on format as well as finishing order. The same P3 result represented 15 points on the current full-distance scale, but just six under the 2003 scale; an older season cannot be compared by raw totals without noting its rules. Our 2003 and 2010 recount shows how a lead can change when an analyst deliberately recalculates results on another scale.
Points do not measure every part of a performance: they omit most positions outside the scoring places and compress gaps between finishers into discrete awards. They also do not isolate driver ability from the car or reliability. For a particular season, use its final official classification and the points rules then in force. Start with the Points & Championships hub, then compare its companion guide to standard and Sprint weekend formats.
Sources and date checked
Rules checked 2 October 2026 against the FIA 2026 Section A General Provisions, Issue 02, Article A2.2 (race and Sprint tables, thresholds, dead heat) and 2026 Section B Sporting Regulations, Issue 09. The FIA confirmed removal of the fastest-lap award in its World Motor Sport Council regulation announcement. The examples are direct applications of the cited tables; no historical results are recalculated here.