Formula 1 standings measure success for drivers and teams as they compete across a global calendar of races. The driver and constructor championships crown champions at the season’s final race, while the team and individual points scoring systems reward both hard work and strategic decision-making throughout a season. F1’s rich heritage of tradition and futuristic innovation ensures that the sport’s ranking system reflects its dynamic evolution.
Drivers earn points for themselves and their team based on their finish position at each race. A race’s pole position (P1) is the top starting spot, awarded to the fastest driver in qualifying. The podium is made up of the first three finishers in a race, with first place earning the most points of the day. Drivers compete for pole and podium finishes to increase their chances of winning the season-long drivers’ and constructors’ championship.
While it’s often said that the best driver will win the drivers’ title, it doesn’t always play out that way. The exception is the case of a clear team leader, such as Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing or Fernando Alonso for McLaren, which means their respective teams will back them at the expense of their team mate. Then it’s up to the ‘number two’ to stake their claim by matching or beating their team mate.
It’s more common for a team to be crowned champions of the constructors’ title, as demonstrated by Mercedes’ record of success over recent seasons. However, there are also numerous examples of non-dominant teams such as McLaren’s 2024 title win, when Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri outscored the RB20s of Red Bull Racing and Ferrari.