Formula 1 standings are a major part of the sport’s identity, defining champions and providing an ultimate measure of success. They also have the potential to make or break a team’s budget, with prize money awarded according to championship finishing position.
In the Drivers’ Championship, points are awarded to drivers based on their results in each race, with a maximum of 25 for a win. The driver with the most points at the end of the season is crowned world champion. In 2023 and later, the points from sprint races (where the top eight drivers score) are added to the tally too, making for an even more complicated picture.
A team’s standings are also important, with the Constructors’ Championship decided by the total points scored by both of their cars. Since the championship first began in 1958, there have only been 12 occasions when a driver has won the title without winning the constructors’ crown. Ferrari have won the most titles, with 16 overall, followed by Williams and McLaren, who both claim nine each.
One of the strangest aspects of F1 is that team mates are often fiercely competitive. This is especially true when both are in the hunt for the title, as happened with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their Mercedes years. This can sometimes mean that a team’s number one driver will sacrifice their own chances of victory by allowing their quicker team mate to go ahead. It can be a frustrating part of the sport, but it’s also an essential aspect that helps to make it so intriguing.