A lot has changed over the years in Formula 1 – from rule changes boosting overtaking opportunities to technological shifts altering how fast cars go. But one thing has remained constant – the rankings, which determine how drivers and teams finish in each race.
At the end of each season the top-ranked driver and team are crowned champions in the FIA World Drivers Championship and Constructors’ Championship, respectively. It’s not uncommon for it to come down to the last race, with drivers fighting for every point on offer.
During the race drivers score points for their position on the finishing grid and the fastest lap they set in Q3. These points count towards the individual’s total throughout the season. The driver with the most points is awarded pole position on the starting grid, while the team that finishes in the highest positions wins the Constructors’ Championship.
Dead heats between teams happen regularly – though as yet they’ve never been enough to decide the destination of the championship itself. If two or more teams are level on points at the end of the year, it’s decided by a countback of results. The team with the most wins is placed higher, followed by those with more second place finishes and so on.
