We take a look at the F1 points system for the 2023 season, including how points are scored in the new Sprint Races format.
F1 Points System For 2023
The points system for the 2023 season remained unchanged, with the following points being awarded:
1st place: 25 points
2nd place: 18 points
3rd place: 15 points
4th place: 12 points
5th place: 10 points
6th place: 8 points
7th place: 6 points
8th place: 4 points
9th place: 2 points
10th place: 1 point
Fastest Lap: 1 point
The point for the fastest lap started began in 2019 and adds a nice extra battle in the race as teams and drivers try to maximise their points during a race weekend.
All of the points earned in both the normal races and traditional races go toward the drivers’ & constructors’ table. How much a team earns from F1 can depend on where they finish in the constructors’ championship.
Sprint Race Points System
Sprint races began in 2021 as a way to bring more excitement into the sport. For the 2023 schedule, there will be six sprint races. The points system for the sprint race is as followed:
1st place: 8 points
2nd place: 7 points
3rd place: 6 points
4th place: 5 points
5th place: 4 points
6th place: 3 points
7th place: 2 points
8th place: 1 point
The above points format was introduced in 2022 after the sprint races in the 2021 season only offered 3 points to the winner, 2 points to second place, and 1 point to 3rd place.
Race Points System If A Race Is Cancelled
If a race is cancelled, there is a system in place to ensure the points awarded are fair. The rules were changed in 2022, and remain the same for the 2023 season.
If a race is under 2 laps, then no points will be awarded.
If over 2 laps & under 25% of the race is completed, only the top 5 drivers will receive points, with first place winning 6 points, 4 points for the second-placed driver, and 3, 2 & 1 points are awarded to the remaining top 5 drivers.
If a race lasts between 25% – 50% of the race distance, then 9 drivers receive points. The first-placed driver is awarded 13 points, then 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1 points are awarded to the remaining 8 drivers.
For races that last 50% – 75%, the top 10 drivers all win points as usual, only this time 19 points are awarded to the leader, then 14, 12, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 & 1 for the remaining 9 drivers.
How do drivers end up on half points?
With the new points system for 2022 & beyond, drivers can’t win half points anymore. The previous points system meant that if a race didn’t reach 75% of the race distance and was over 2 laps, then drivers were awarded half points. Therefore, this led to drivers receiving half points, as you would win 12.5 points if you were in first position when the race was cancelled.
Why are races cancelled?
Races can be cancelled for a number of reasons, but one of the main causes of race cancellations is down to the weather.
One of the most recent examples of this was the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was faced with torrential rain. The race stewards initially delayed the start of the race to see if the rain would pass, and eventually allowed the race to go ahead under safety car conditions. After just one full lap, the weather wasn’t improving and the stewards made the decision to cancel the race for safety reasons.
Despite only one full lap being completed, half points were awarded to each driver. This led to the revamp of the points system for race cancellations for the 2022 season & beyond.
History Of F1 Points System
There have been many points systems over the years. The current points system was introduced in the 2010 season.
From 1991 – 2009, drivers were awarded ten points for winning, and points were only awarded up to 8th place (2003 – 2009) and 6th place (1991 – 2002).
F1 Points Records
Most points in one season
Max Verstappen holds the record for most points per season, having scored 454 points in his title-winning 2022 season.
Total F1 career points
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most points in a Formula One career, with 4405.5 points in total. It’s worth noting, however, that Hamilton has competed in an era where there are more races in a season, and you are awarded more points for a race win.
This is reflected in the top 10 of most F1 points won, as all the drivers have competed in F1 recently.
| Driver | Points | |
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | 4405.5 |
| 2 | Sebastian Vettel | 3098 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | 2061 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | 2011.5 |
| 5 | Kimi Räikkönen | 1873 |
| 6 | Valteri Bottas | 1787 |
| 7 | Nico Rosberg | 1594.5 |
| 8 | Michael Schumacher | 1566 |
| 9 | Daniel Ricciardo | 1311 |
| 10 | Jenson Button | 1235 |
Most points scored without a win
New Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg currently holds the record for most points scored without claiming a victory. The German currently has 521 points from 181 race starts. Can Hulkenberg change this and win his first race in 2023?
Most career points without being World Champion
Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas holds the unwanted record for having the most career points in F1 without becoming World Champion. No doubt due to his role as the ‘second driver’ behind Lewis Hamilton’s dominance, where he mainly finished second behind the Brit.
FAQs
Do you get points for qualifying in F1?
No, you don’t get any points in qualifying in Formula One. Qualifying is only used to sort the order for the grid for the main race.
How many points for a win in F1?
You get 25 points for winning an F1 race.
How can you get 0.5 points in F1?
If a race doesn’t finish the required number of laps due to a red flag, then half points can be awarded depending on the distance of the race and the position of the driver.
Who has scored the most points in F1?
Lewis Hamilton has scored the most points in F1, with a total of 4405.5 points won throughout his career.
