The FIA has officially confirmed that it will change the Formula 1 points system for shortened races due to the events which took place in the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix.
The sports faced a difficult and controversial moment last year in Belgium, when the event was affected by heavy and persistent rain at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which led to several delays. Eventually the safety car completed three laps after it was deemed that there were no sufficient safe conditions to allow for a race restart. However, this meant that it was enough to ensure the race was official and a classification could be issued.
Red Bull Racing Dutch driver Max Verstappen was the winner of the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, as the top 10 drivers received half points and is the shortest race in Formula 1 history. Needles to say, a lot of heated discussions followed and as a result, the FIA has changed the rules regarding shortened races, with no points awarded for a race unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the race leader without a safety car or virtual safety car, meaning no points would have been awarded for last year’s Belgian GP under the new rules.
The points rules have been broken down further, with the top five receiving points if more than two laps are completed by less than 25% of the schedule race distance is completed.
This means that if the race leader has completed between 25%-50% of the scheduled race distance, the top nine receive points, while if the race leader has completed between 50%-75% of the scheduled race distance, the top 10 receive points.
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Here’s a full breakdown of the new points system per scheduled race distance completed:
No points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the leader without a Safety Car and/or Virtual Safety Car intervention.
If the leader has completed more than two laps but less than 25% of the scheduled race distance, the top five finishers will be awarded points as follows:
1st – 6 points
2nd – 4 points
3rd – 3 points
4th – 2 points
5th – 1 point
If the leader has completed 25% but less than 50% of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded as follows:
1st – 13 points
2nd – 10 points
3rd – 8 points
4th – 6 points
5th – 5 point
6th – 4 points
7th – 3 points
8th – 2 points
9th – 1 point
If the leader has completed 50% but less than 75% of the scheduled event distance, points will be given in the following way:
1st – 19 points
2nd – 14 points
3rd – 12 points
4th – 9 points
5th – 8 point
6th – 6 points
7th – 5 points
8th – 3 points
9th – 2 points
10th – 1 point
These changes will be officially approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
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