How Are F1 Points Awarded to Drivers and Constructors In The 2023 Season?

In the world of F1, points are given to drivers based on their finishing position in each race. These points are accumulated throughout the season to determine the final standings in the F1 World Championship. They can often be a confusing system to keep track of, especially for new fans of the sport. To help you out, we’ve put together a guide on how F1 points are awarded to both drivers and constructors.

This is specifically for the 2023 season. The system doesn’t change often, but it does change, so here’s the most up to date guide on how F1 points are awarded.

Drivers’ Championship

The current point system awards points to the top 10 finishers of each race, with the winner receiving 25 points, second place receiving 18 points, third place receiving 15 points, and so on, with tenth place receiving 1 point.

Fastest Lap Point

Additionally, a bonus point is awarded to the driver who achieves the fastest lap in the race, as long as they finish within the top 10.

How does F1 decide the world champion?

At the end of the season, the driver with the most points will be declared the F1 World Champion. 

In 2022, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen broke the record for the amount of points won in a season with 454. The two-time champion also gathered enough points to take the championship win well before the end of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix. 

Position	Points
1st	25
2nd	18
3rd	15
4th	12
5th	10
6th	8
7th	6
8th	4
9th	2
10th	1

Sprint Races

F1 brought sprint races onto the calendar in 2021 which is another opportunity for drivers to pick up points. 

Points are awarded for F1 sprint races in a similar way as they are awarded for traditional F1 races, however there are not as many on offer. The top 8 finishers in the sprint race are awarded points, with the winner receiving 8 points, the second place finisher receiving 7 points, and the third place finisher receiving 6 points, and so on. 

Place	Points
1st	8
2nd	7
3rd	6
4th	5
5th	4
6th	3
7th	2
8th	1

Constructors’ Championship

Constructors’ points work the same way as for the drivers, they just add up the points that both of their drivers achieve.

2023 Season

F1 fans are eagerly waiting for the upcoming 2023 season to get going with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 3-5 March and pre-season testing the week before. On top of that, the next season of Netflix’s Drive To Survive is due to be released on 24th February so fans will be able to re-live the on and off track drama from last year.

Now you know exactly how points are awarded in F1 and how significant they are in the sport.

F1 Champion Points History

Season	Driver	Age	Wins	Fastest laps	Points
1950	Giuseppe Farina[20]	44	3	3	30
1951	Juan Manuel Fangio[21]	40	3	5	31
1952[a]	Alberto Ascari[23]	34	6	6	36
1953[a]	Alberto Ascari[23]	35	5	4	34.5
1954	Juan Manuel Fangio[21]	43	6	3	42
1955	Juan Manuel Fangio[21]	44	4	3	40
1956	Juan Manuel Fangio[21]	45	3	4	30
1957	Juan Manuel Fangio[21]	46	4	2	40
1958	Mike Hawthorn[24]	29	1	5	42
1959	Jack Brabham[25]	33	2	1	31
1960	Jack Brabham[25]	34	5	3	43
1961	Phil Hill[26]	34	2	2	34
1962	Graham Hill[27]	33	4	3	42
1963	Jim Clark[28]	27	7	6	54
1964	John Surtees[29]	30	2	2	40
1965	Jim Clark[28]	29	6	6	54
1966	Jack Brabham[25]	40	4	1	42
1967	Denny Hulme[30]	31	2	2	51
1968	Graham Hill[27]	39	3	0	48
1969	Jackie Stewart[31]	30	6	5	63
1970	Jochen Rindt[32]	28	5	1	45
1971	Jackie Stewart[31]	32	6	3	62
1972	Emerson Fittipaldi[33]	25	5	0	61
1973	Jackie Stewart[31]	34	5	1	71
1974	Emerson Fittipaldi[33]	27	3	0	55
1975	Niki Lauda[34]	26	5	2	64.5
1976	James Hunt[35]	29	6	2	69
1977	Niki Lauda[34]	28	3	3	72
1978	Mario Andretti[36]	38	6	3	64
1979	Jody Scheckter[37]	29	3	0	51
1980	Alan Jones[38]	34	5	5	67
1981	Nelson Piquet[39]	29	3	1	50
1982	Keke Rosberg[40]	34	1	0	44
1983	Nelson Piquet[39]	31	3	4	59
1984	Niki Lauda[34]	35	5	5	72
1985	Alain Prost[41]	30	5	5	73
1986	Alain Prost[41]	31	4	2	72
1987	Nelson Piquet[39]	35	3	4	73
1988	Ayrton Senna[42]	28	8	3	90
1989	Alain Prost[41]	34	4	5	76
1990	Ayrton Senna[42]	30	6	2	78
1991	Ayrton Senna[42]	31	7	2	96
1992	Nigel Mansell[43]	39	9	8	108
1993	Alain Prost[41]	38	7	6	99
1994	Michael Schumacher[44]	25	8	8	92
1995	Michael Schumacher[44]	26	9	8	102
1996	Damon Hill[45]	36	8	5	97
1997	Jacques Villeneuve[46]	26	7	3	81
1998	Mika Häkkinen[48]	30	8	6	100
1999	Mika Häkkinen[48]	31	5	6	76
2000	Michael Schumacher[44]	31	9	2	108
2001	Michael Schumacher[44]	32	9	3	123
2002	Michael Schumacher[44]	33	11	7	144
2003	Michael Schumacher[44]	34	6	5	93
2004	Michael Schumacher[44]	35	13	10	148
2005	Fernando Alonso[49]	24	7	2	133
2006	Fernando Alonso[49]	25	7	5	134
2007	Kimi Räikkönen[50]	28	6	6	110
2008	Lewis Hamilton[51]	23	5	1	98
2009	Jenson Button[52]	29	6	2	95
2010	Sebastian Vettel[53]	23	5	3	256
2011	Sebastian Vettel[53]	24	11	3	392
2012	Sebastian Vettel[53]	25	5	6	281
2013	Sebastian Vettel[53]	26	13	7	397
2014	Lewis Hamilton[51]	29	11	7	384
2015	Lewis Hamilton[51]	30	10	8	381
2016	Nico Rosberg[54]	31	9	6	385
2017	Lewis Hamilton[51]	32	9	7	363
2018	Lewis Hamilton[51]	33	11	3	408
2019	Lewis Hamilton[51]	34	11	6	413
2020	Lewis Hamilton[51]	35	11	6	347
2021	Max Verstappen[55]	24	10	6	395.5
2022	Max Verstappen[55]	25	15	5	454