Formula 1 standings are the real-time indicator of each team’s progress throughout the season. Each race counts towards the final rankings, reflecting the full range of factors that define success in F1. Drivers earn points for themselves and their teams, while constructors’ tally rewards the collective efforts of engineers and strategists in an intense and strategic sport where even the smallest mistake can have a huge impact.
The system has evolved over the years, balancing driving excellence with competitiveness and fairness for smaller constructors – but the core concept remains the same. A drivers’ and teams’ overall tally is calculated from their results in all races and Sprint events, with the winner of each earning 25 points, second place getting 18 and third receiving 18. The final ranking then takes into account any points scored for setting the fastest lap. Drivers outside of the top ten receive no points.
The tally is then added up at the end of the year, with the driver and team that accumulates the most points crowned champions. There have been several dead heats in the history of F1, including a remarkable three-way battle between Ferrari’s Enzo Ferrari, Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Cooper founder John Cooper, culminating in Ferrari’s first world championship win in 1957. It has also seen some epic fights between Mercedes team mates, with Hamilton and Rosberg taking the title to the wire in 2014 and 2016. The current era of team tussles is arguably the most heated yet though, with McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel locked in an exhilarating battle for the world championship this season.