Since 2010, there have been points in Formula 1 for the top 10 and 25 of them for the race winner. A quantum leap, because previously there were never more than ten points for the first place finisher. Since then, the points system has remained largely unchanged. Only the bonus counter for the fastest lap changed the payout for the Grand Prix a little.
But the premier class could face a new points system. Around the Chinese GP it became known that there was open discussion about expanding the points positions up to 12th place. Accordingly, the current system would remain unchanged up to 7th place, but after that it would be descending in increments of one and not in 2-point increments up to P9, as in the current points key. The issue was discussed at the last meeting of the F1 Commission at the end of April, but no final decision was reached yet.
F1 team bosses: More points means more excitement
At the Formula 1 weekend in Miami, a number of team bosses spoke out in favor of increasing the points distribution – and not just the representatives of the backbench teams, who would probably primarily benefit from such an innovation. Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack said: “It’s time to take a look at this system. Because I personally think there always has to be something to fight for, no matter where you stand.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown also agreed: “I think if you increase the distribution of points, it will create more excitement throughout the field. That’s why we support the idea that more teams should score points.” This statement is particularly interesting because McLaren would not currently benefit from a change, but on the contrary might even suffer a disadvantage from it.
Radical suggestion from Zak Brown: Points for everyone?
Brown thinks even one step further. “You could even argue for giving all drivers points. That would of course be quite an overhaul, but when it comes to points, that makes every overtaking maneuver much more important,” said the American. In the major US racing series, for example, it is common practice for all drivers who take part in a race to be rewarded with points.
“It happens that cars park in order to save something on their car because they no longer have a chance of scoring points. This would prevent that. If a faster car is passed to the back, every overtaking counts,” said the McLaren CEO . It is unclear whether Formula 1 will go that far. But a change seems realistic at the moment. Because, as Brown emphasized, he doesn’t just speak for himself: “All teams agree that expanding the points positions would be a good thing.”
RB team boss: There are no more backbenchers in Formula 1
“Our pole position is P11 and our victory is P11,” said Mekies. Due to the good technical reliability of all the top teams in current Formula 1, the scenario that the bottom five teams all come away empty-handed in a race seems quite realistic. This is what happened at the opening GP in Bahrain. Since then, at least one of those teams has collected points at every Grand Prix.
Especially in Miami, it became clear that the gap between the top 5 and the rest of the field is anything but insurmountable: thanks to better pace in the last stint, Yuki Tsunoda placed well ahead of George Russell, while Aston Martin itself was only part of the chasing field and needed in the form of Fernando Alonso luck to even score points.