Support for new F1 points system

During the Chinese Grand Prix it emerged a new F1 points system is being discussed and it appears it is getting the support required.

Next week Formula 1 is set to discuss introducing a new points structure as early as next year.

Since 2010 points have been dished out to the top 10 finishers of a F1 Grand Prix with 25 being awarded for victory, while in 2019 an extra point was on offer for the fastest lap for points scorers.

For the previous 20 seasons only 10 points were handed to the victor, while between 2003-2009 the top eight scored.

But under the proposed new system, points will be distributed to the top 12 drivers, opening up greater opportunities for the teams battling in the midfield and below.

Despite the big change, the amount of points for first to seventh will remain unchanged with only the allocations for P8 and below being altered.

To get the support required to make the change, it needs a majority support from at least five F1 teams plus being supported by the FIA and FOM.

The early signs are positive for change with F1 team owners publicly expressing their approval.

Even leading Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur said he is “not against it” having previously taken over Sauber when it was a back marker.

“I’m not against and coming from Alfa Romeo,” Vasseur said.

“I perfectly understand sometimes the frustration that you are doing a mega weekend, but if there is no DNF in front of you then you finish P11 and the reward is zero.

“(At the moment) you can finish P11 or P 20 and it is the same, so I can understand the frustration for this.”

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said he was “impartial” about it.

“It feels like there are two groups in Formula 1 at the moment, and the teams from six to 10 are in as hard a fight as one to five,” he said.

“I think it’s one of those things where you’ve just got to run the numbers and look at the analytics and say ‘what would it actually change?’ So I’m impartial to it.”

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu believes it can only be a good thing.

“What’s the downside? Currently, we have three teams with zero points and I don’t think that’s good for sport,” he said.

“If somebody was awarded points for P11, P12, there will be less people with zero points. 

“So I think it’s clearer for the fans and for the motivation of everybody working in a team as well. 

“It’s much better to come out with P12 with one point, P11 with two points, it’s a reward.”

Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool

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