Formula 1 looks complicated from the outside, but the scoring is simple once you know the numbers. Here is exactly how points and championships work in the 2026 season.
Race points: the top 10 score
The top ten finishers in every Grand Prix score on this scale:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 18 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 12 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 8 |
| 7th | 6 |
| 8th | 4 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
Finish 11th or lower and you score nothing. There is no bonus point for fastest lap — that point existed from 2019 to 2024 but was scrapped from 2025 after teams gamed it at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Sprint points: the top 8 score
Six of the 2026 weekends feature a Saturday Sprint — a short race that pays points to the top eight:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 8 |
| 2nd | 7 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 4 |
| 6th | 3 |
| 7th | 2 |
| 8th | 1 |
Two championships from one set of points
Every point feeds two titles. The Drivers' Championship goes to the driver with the most points across the season. The Constructors' Championship adds up both of a team's cars — which is why every team runs two drivers, and why even midfield points matter (they decide millions in prize money).
Following Formula 1 from India
Check the 2026 schedule with IST times and how to watch live, and see the full 2026 teams and drivers.
Sources: Sky Sports F1, List of Formula One points systems (Wikipedia).