People are only just realising why F1 points go 25, 18, 15 for top three drivers each race

Formula 1 scoring works slightly differently from other sports, with the first three drivers to cross the finish line at events receiving 25, 18, and 15 points respectively, something which may confuse new fans

Formula 1’s rules can be quite tricky for new fans to understand, especially if they’re unfamiliar with motorsports in general. From memorising what each flag means to why drivers have to take two mandatory pit stops in most races, it can be an incredibly unfriendly sport for newbies to get to grips with.

And then there’s the incredibly unique scoring system, which has seen its fair share of changes over the years, as well as two separate standings in the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. With the Hungarian Grand Prix fast approaching this Sunday, Mirror F1 breaks down how F1 scoring works in 2025…

How does F1 Grand Prix scoring work?

While each Grand Prix sees 20 drivers from 10 teams take to the grid, only the top 10 who cross the line first see points on the board for their efforts. The outright winner of the race is awarded 25 points, second place gets 18 points and third takes 15, with the rest of the top 10 receiving fewer points depending on their positioning.

With regards to why the F1 settled on the 25, 18 and 15 system, it is reported that it was an intentional move to incentivise better performers among competitors. As a win is seven points more valuable than finishing second, the current set-up promotes aggressive racing and overtaking as opposed to simply settling and holding position.

It also makes the sport more exciting from a fan perspective, as a win one week and a third-place finish at the next event could make or break a driver’s positioning in the seasonal standings and their race for the Drivers’ Championship.

Here’s a breakdown of how drivers are awarded points for each Grand Prix:

• 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

An extra point was previously awarded to the driver and team who managed the fastest lap, so long as they managed a top 10 finish, but this was ultimately removed for the 2025 season.

An amended system for incomplete races

The regular race system is used for all races deemed to be 75 per cent or more complete. The same applies to races resumed after a red flag stoppage and ending under green flag conditions for at least two racing laps. However, there’s a reduced scoring system for races that finish prematurely.

The points that drivers receive in this scenario depend on how long the race was active. For example, the winner of a race that lasted between two laps (25 per cent complete) receives just six points. Drivers get 13 points for races between 25 per cent and 50 per cent complete, and 19 points for races that are called off between 50 per cent and 75 per cent complete.

How does F1 Sprint scoring work?

In addition to the Grand Prix, there are also a number of Sprint events across the F1 season, but these are scored differently from the regular track-based events. For context, only the top eight drivers are rewarded for their placements in Sprint events, and the amount of points that they are awarded for their placement is considerably lower, for the most part, compared to Grand Prix.

Here’s a breakdown of how drivers are awarded points for each Sprint:

• 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

Separate tables for drivers and constructors

At the end of each season, the driver who has racked up the most points takes home the Drivers’ Championship, while the team (made up of two drivers) with the most points overall wins the Constructors’ Championship. It gives an extra edge to the sport, given that the driver of one team can win the individual title, but a completely different team can win the Constructors’ trophy due to it being an aggregation of points.

For example, Max Verstappen of Red Bull won last year’s Drivers’ Championship with 437 points from nine wins and 14 podiums, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Constructors’ Championship going to McLaren. That’s because Verstappen’s Red Bull partner, Sergio Perez, finished the season with 152 points, putting Red Bull at a lowly third in the team standings with a total of 589 points.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who finished second and fourth in the individual standings respectively, accumulated a combined total of 666 points. Ferrari, meanwhile, took the second place spot in the team standings thanks to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz racking up 652 points.