The 2024 F1 season is highlighting a clear performance gap between the top five teams and the rest of the grid. This aspect has significant implications, especially concerning the Constructors’ Championship points, as smaller teams find it challenging to secure even a single point in a linear race.
The current standings illustrate this well: Aston Martin closes the top 5 with 40 points, while Racing Bulls sits sixth with only 7 points. Among the other four teams, only Haas has managed to avoid a zero, securing 5 valuable points.
Consequently, discussions have emerged in the paddock regarding a potential adjustment to the F1 2025 scoring system, as hinted by Motorsport.com. In the proposed modification draft set to be presented at this week’s F1 Commission meeting, the new scoring system would remain unchanged for the top seven positions.
However, from eighth place onwards, points would gradually decrease from 5 to 1, thus rewarding even the eleventh and twelfth finishers. This adjustment aims to benefit smaller teams and aligns with the end-of-year prize that Liberty Media awards to teams based on their Constructors’ standings.
The Federation strongly supports this proposal, as all teams pay an entry fee to participate in the Formula 1 World Championship based on their previous year’s results. This fee comprises a fixed amount plus a predetermined sum for each point earned.
Last year, all teams were required to pay a flat fee of just over $617,000, plus a fee of $7,441 per point for Red Bull and $6,174 per point for other teams. It’s evident that the new scoring system, up for discussion this week, would generate additional revenue for the Federation.
However, for this proposal to be implemented starting from the next F1 season, the support of the majority of teams is needed, requiring the backing of five teams, in addition to the support of the FIA and FOM.
Nevertheless, there is some openness from the top teams towards the proposed change since, under the current circumstances, the new scoring system would effectively leave their championship entry fee unchanged.
At Shanghai, Ferrari’s Team Principal Frederic Vasseur stated, “Let’s say I’m not against it. Coming from Alfa Romeo, I understand the frustration when you have a great weekend but, if there’s no retirement ahead, you don’t score points. You can finish eleventh or twentieth, and it doesn’t change anything.”
The French manager highlights a potential drawback of the new F1 scoring system while reiterating his lack of opposition: “We also need to consider, though, if for example there were 6 teams ahead of everyone else, then it would be the same for whoever finishes thirteenth.
“We need to be careful, but I’m not against it.”
Chris Horner, the Team Principal of Red Bull, which has dominated recent championships, also expresses at least neutrality on the matter: “At the moment, it seems like there are two groups in F1, and the teams from sixth to tenth place are fighting exactly like those from first to fifth.
“It’s one of those things where you have to do the math, look at the analysis, and ask yourself: what would actually change? So, I’m impartial about it.”
