Formula 1 standings are constantly changing – and not just because drivers’ and teams’ performances evolve with every race. The rules have also changed over the years, reshaping strategies and altering the landscape of overtaking opportunities.
During the season, drivers and teams earn points for themselves and their constructors by finishing within the top ten of each Grand Prix. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned champions of the Constructors’ Championship. If a driver moves between teams during the season, they keep their individual driver points (though those points don’t count towards the team’s ranking).
The team rankings are calculated by adding up each team’s finishes and dividing that total by the number of races in which each team has finished. This is called the ‘countback’ method. In a case where two teams are tied on results, the teams are separated according to their number of wins. If teams still have the same number of wins, the tie is broken by looking at second place finishes and so on.
Teams have to pay a fee for every point they score. This is because the FIA needs to ensure that there is enough prize money at stake for all teams, not just the winners. As a result, the teams that aren’t paying their bills lose points – and if they accumulate too many points they risk falling out of the Championship. This has led to several situations over the years where a team has had to pay up to reclaim their position in the standings.
