Breaking news
Formula 1
F1 considering awarding points down to 20th place
Awarding points down to 20th place instead of just the top 10 was one of the ideas discussed at Wednesday's meeting of Formula 1's Strategy Group.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Jul 6, 2018, 9:20 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
F1's new management is continuing to explore possible changes to the sporting regulations, some of which could be introduced before 2021, when a major package of technical changes comes on stream.
For the first 10 years of the world championship from 1950, points were only awarded only for the top-five finishers, with an extra point for fastest lap.
That was extended to the top six from 1960 until 2002, with the fastest lap dropped, and then to the top eight from 2003-09.
The current system, with 25 for a win and the top 10 all scoring, was introduced in 2010.
"They're considering whether the points system should go all the way down to 20," said Force India boss Vijay Mallya.
"With 20 being every car scores a point if they finish the race. The bottom starts with one point and then goes up. Or whether 10 should be extended down to 15. All these discussions took place."
One of the obvious motivations for the change would be to give drivers outside the top 10 an extra incentive to race hard, but the alternative view is that the current system offers a greater sense of reward.
"The point that was made is that there's a certain panache at being referred to as finishing in the top 10," Mallya told Motorsport.com.
"That will get diluted if you start giving points down the line. When we do well all my friends send me messages saying, 'Congratulations, another top 10 finish.' Top 10 has a certain sense of achievement to it.
"The counter point that was made was that if every driver gets a point, all the way down to the bottom, then every car is going to be racing for a point.
"So at the end of the day nobody is going to stop pushing the limits just because they're outside the top 10 and there is no reward at the end.
"So there was a suggestion to make it up to 15. There is obviously going to be more debate. This was based on research that was done."
Consideration is also being given to the return of points for fastest lap for the first time since 1959 and points for pole position.
"These ideas are up in the air," Mallya added.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sainz "feels sorry" for MotoGP riders over Silverstone repave
Next article Hamilton: Silverstone's new DRS zone "pointless", "dangerous"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
25 min
Lamborghini World Finals PRO-PRO/AM Race 2: Leitch/Stasi dominate to seal title
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
42 min
Toto Wolff reveals he is actively vetting “two or three people” to replace him at Mercedes
Dakar Rally moves 2027 event out of Saudi Arabia; new location to be announced
Dakar
DAKR Dakar 1 h
Dakar Rally moves 2027 event out of Saudi Arabia; new location to be announced
Lamborghini World Finals AM-LC Race 2: Lewandowski wins again to seal title
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
1 h
Lamborghini World Finals AM-LC Race 2: Lewandowski wins again to seal title
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe