Formula One regulations
Encyclopedia
The numerous Formula One regulations, made and enforced by the FIA
and later the FISA
, have changed dramatically since the first Formula One
World Championship in 1950. This article covers the current state of F1 technical and sporting regulations, as well as the history of the technical regulations since 1950.
The car must only have four wheels mounted externally of the body work with only the front two steered and only the back two driven. There are minimum distances allowed between the wheels and the rear and front body work.
The main chassis
contains a "safety cell" which includes the cockpit, a structure designed to reduce impact directly in front of the cockpit, and the fuel cell directly behind the cockpit. Additionally, the car must contain roll structures behind and ahead of the driver. The driver must be able to enter and exit the cockpit without any adjustments other than removing the steering wheel.
There are also mandatory crash test
standards. There is a 30 mph (48.3 km/h) head-on impact into a steel barrier; "average deceleration must not exceed 25g", with a maximum 60g for a maximum 3 milliseconds, with no damage to the chassis beyond the nose section. The same chassis must then sustain a rear impact from a sled travelling at 30 mph (48.3 km/h), with no damage in front of the rear axle. The roll hoop
is not permitted to crush beyond 50 mm (2 in), and structural failure is only permitted in the top 100 mm (3.9 in) of the body. Side impacts by a 780 kg (1,719.6 lb) object at 10 m/s (22.4 mph) must be decelerated at less than 20g, and absorb no less than 15% and no more than 35% of the total energy; 80 kN (80,000 N) can not be exceeded more than 3 milliseconds. The steering wheel must survive the impact of an 8 kg (17.6 lb) 165 mm (6.5 in)-diameter object at 7 m/s (15.7 mph) with no deformation of the wheel or damage to the quick-release mechanism.
In addition, there are "squeeze tests" on the cockpit sides, fuel tank, and nosebox. The cockpit must survive a 25 kN (25,000 N) pressure with no failure; for the fuel tank, 12.5 kN (12,500 N) is applied. A maximum 3 mm (0.118110236220472 in) deformation is allowed. For the cockpit rim, the figures are 10 kN (10,000 N) and 20 mm (0.78740157480315 in). The nosebox must withstand 40 kN (40,000 N) for 30 seconds without failing.
Onboard electrical and computer
systems, once inspected at the start of the season, may not be changed without prior approval. Electronic starters and launch control are forbidden. The computers must contain a telemetric
accident data reporting system.
, four-stroke internal combustion petrol engines with reciprocating circular piston
s and a maximum of two intake and two exhaust valves
per cylinder. They must be V8 engines and have a maximum displacement
of 2.4 litres.
Devices designed to pre-cool
air before it enters the cylinders are not allowed, nor is the injection
of any substance into the cylinders other than air and fuel
(petrol).
Variable-length intake
and exhaust system
s are also forbidden.
The crankshaft
and camshaft
s must be made of steel
or cast iron
. The use of carbon composite material
s for the cylinder block, cylinder head
and piston
s is not allowed.
Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS - hybrid technology) is permitted beginning in 2009 provided no more than 400 kJ is used in any one lap and no more than 60 kW (80 hp) in or out is permitted. In addition to one fully charged KERS the maximum recoverable energy stored on the car may not exceed 300 kJ. To allow for taller, heavier drivers to race in a car with a KERS the weight allowance of the car was raised by 15 kg. For 2010, KERS were still permitted in Formula One, but all teams have agreed to go throughout the 2010 season without using KERS systems due to the very expensive development and possible weight balance difficulties since larger fuel tanks would have to be used.
Separate starting devices may be used to start engines in the pits and on the grid. If the engine is fitted with an anti-stall device, this must be set to cut the engine within ten seconds in the event of an accident.
Each driver is allowed to use up to eight engines during a season. A ten place starting grid penalty will be applied at each event where an additional engine is used.
) supplies four specifications of slick dry-weather tyres, of which two are available at each race: Prime tyres (hard or medium compound) and Option tyres (soft or super-soft compound). The Prime tyre is more durable than the Option tyre, while the Option tyre provides more grip than the Prime tyre and therefore provides a faster lap time. Additionally, the supplier supplies one of intermediate and one of wet-weather tyres. Each compound is differentiated by a different color of the Pirelli logo on the sidewall; red for super-soft, yellow for soft, white for medium and silver for hard, light blue for intermediate and orange for wets. At the start of the 2011 season, the option tyre was also differentiated by a white band around the edge of the tyre to improve visibility. This temporary solution was used in Malaysia and China before the permanent solution of a colored band running alongside the Pirelli logo was adopted for the rest of the season.
Competitors are allowed only a limited number of tyre sets during a race event: eleven dry, four intermediate, three wet. Each tyre must be marked with a unique identifier during a race event. During the practice sessions drivers are limited to use of three sets of dry tyres and certain sets must be returned to the supplier before the second and third sessions. If qualifying and starting the race in dry tyres, drivers who make it to the third qualification session must use the tyres they set their grid time with to start the race. Cars must race on both type of dry compounds during a race unless intermediate or wet tyres have been used by that car in that race.
Prior to qualifying, wet- and intermediate-tyres may only be used if the track is judged wet by the race director. Starting the race behind the safety car due to heavy rain requires cars to be fitted with wet-tyres until they pit.
Heaters may be applied only to the outside of tyres.
; they may not do work on the cars, other than routine maintenance, until they are released from parc fermé for the race the next morning.
If a team must do other significant work, body work or suspension
adjustments, the car will start from the pit lane.
The pit lane opens thirty minutes before the start of a race, during which time drivers may drive around the track as much as they like, driving through the pitlane each time around in order to avoid the grid. Drivers must be in their cars and in place on the grid by time the pit lane closes at -15:00; otherwise they must start the race from the pits. Meanwhile, teams may work on their cars on the grid.
At -10:00 the grid is cleared of everyone except team mechanics, race marshals, and drivers. A team will generally want to keep its tyres off their cars and heated in their tyre-warmers for as long as possible, but they must be attached to the cars by -3:00.
Engines must be running by -1:00; at fifteen seconds to the start all personnel must be clear of the track. Two green lights signify the start of the formation lap, also known as the parade lap, during which drivers must remain in the same order (no passing) except if a car ahead has stopped due to a technical problem, or has had an accident. The cars circle the track once, usually weaving from side to side to warm up their tyres, and form up again in their starting positions on the grid. A series of short, controlled burnouts is usually performed as each driver approaches their grid box in order to maximize rear tyre temperature and clean off any debris from the parade lap.
If, for some reason, a car cannot start the race (engine failure during qualifying or practice, suspension fails, etc.), the car can still join the race, but will take a 10-position penalty at the start. For example, if the car qualifies in 3rd, but has to change an engine at any point during the race weekend prior to the actual race, the car will start from 13th position. For strategy's sake, teams will sometimes opt to start a car affected in this way from the pit lane. This means they start at the tail end of the grid; however, they can not only change an engine, but also start the race on a full load of fuel and with fresh tyres.
Gearboxes must be used for 5 consecutive events (counted as P3, the qualifying practice session and the race). A five place grid penalty will be incurred if a replacement gearbox is used. For 2011 only, each driver gets one penalty-free gearbox change.
The race is started by five red lights, controlled by FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting
. The lights illuminate one at a time, left to right, in one-second intervals, and then go out simultaneously after an interval of between four and seven seconds. When the lights go out, the race begins. Should the start need to be aborted for any reason, all five red lights will come on as normal, but instead of going out, the three orange lights will flash. All engines are stopped and the start resumes from the five minute point. If a single driver raises his hand to indicate that he can't start, the marshall for that row will wave a yellow flag, then after a few seconds, both the red and orange lights will extinguish and the green lights will come on to indicate another formation lap.
) because insufficient drivers completed 90% of the winner's distance. The system was revised in 2003 and was later revised for the 2010 season because of the 4 new teams entering the sport. The scoring system from 2010 is:
For scoring systems prior to 2010, refer to the List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems.
Drivers finishing lower than tenth place receive no points.
If the race had for some reason to be abandoned before 75% of the planned distance (rounded up to the nearest lap) had been completed, then the points awarded are halved: 12.5, 9, 7.5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5.
Points are awarded equally to the driver and his constructor; for example, if a driver for one team comes second, eighteen points are added to his season total; if his teammate finished third in the same race, he adds fifteen to his total and the team adds 33 (the sum of the drivers' points) to its total. The championships are awarded to whichever driver and constructor have the most points at the end of the season. In case of a tie, the FIA compares the number of times each driver has finished in each position. The championship goes to whichever had the greater number of wins; if they have the same number of wins, it goes to the driver with the greater number of second places, and so on. For example, if Ayrton Senna
and Alain Prost
are tied at the end of a season, and Prost had six wins and three second place finishes, but Senna had six wins and four second place finishes (even if he had fewer third places than Prost, etc.), Senna would be champion.
values as specified by the FIA) signify as follows:
Flags, whose specifications and usage are prescribed by Appendix H (PDF) of the FIA's International Sporting Code, must measure at least 60 cm by 80 cm, excepting the red and chequered flags, which must measure at least 80 cm by 100 cm.
For the drive-through and stop-go penalties, a driver has two laps from the time his team hears of the penalty to enter the pits; if he does not pit within two laps, he will be black-flagged. The exception to this rule is if the Safety Car is deployed before a driver serves his penalty, in which case he is not allowed to serve his penalty until after the Safety Car comes back in. If he incurs a penalty within the last five laps of the race, he need not pit at all; instead, twenty-five seconds will be added to his total race time in case of a drive-through penalty, and thirty seconds in case of stop-go penalty.
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
and later the FISA
Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile
The Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile was the governing body for motor racing events. The organisation's origins date from 1922, when the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile delegated the organisation of automobile racing to the CSI , an autonomous committee that would later...
, have changed dramatically since the first Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship in 1950. This article covers the current state of F1 technical and sporting regulations, as well as the history of the technical regulations since 1950.
Chassis
An F1 car can be no more than 180 cm wide and 95 cm tall. Though there is no maximum length, other rules set indirect limits on these dimensions, and nearly every aspect of the car carries size regulations; consequently the various cars tend to be very close to the same size.The car must only have four wheels mounted externally of the body work with only the front two steered and only the back two driven. There are minimum distances allowed between the wheels and the rear and front body work.
The main chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
contains a "safety cell" which includes the cockpit, a structure designed to reduce impact directly in front of the cockpit, and the fuel cell directly behind the cockpit. Additionally, the car must contain roll structures behind and ahead of the driver. The driver must be able to enter and exit the cockpit without any adjustments other than removing the steering wheel.
There are also mandatory crash test
Crash test
A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation or related systems and components.- Types :...
standards. There is a 30 mph (48.3 km/h) head-on impact into a steel barrier; "average deceleration must not exceed 25g", with a maximum 60g for a maximum 3 milliseconds, with no damage to the chassis beyond the nose section. The same chassis must then sustain a rear impact from a sled travelling at 30 mph (48.3 km/h), with no damage in front of the rear axle. The roll hoop
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
is not permitted to crush beyond 50 mm (2 in), and structural failure is only permitted in the top 100 mm (3.9 in) of the body. Side impacts by a 780 kg (1,719.6 lb) object at 10 m/s (22.4 mph) must be decelerated at less than 20g, and absorb no less than 15% and no more than 35% of the total energy; 80 kN (80,000 N) can not be exceeded more than 3 milliseconds. The steering wheel must survive the impact of an 8 kg (17.6 lb) 165 mm (6.5 in)-diameter object at 7 m/s (15.7 mph) with no deformation of the wheel or damage to the quick-release mechanism.
In addition, there are "squeeze tests" on the cockpit sides, fuel tank, and nosebox. The cockpit must survive a 25 kN (25,000 N) pressure with no failure; for the fuel tank, 12.5 kN (12,500 N) is applied. A maximum 3 mm (0.118110236220472 in) deformation is allowed. For the cockpit rim, the figures are 10 kN (10,000 N) and 20 mm (0.78740157480315 in). The nosebox must withstand 40 kN (40,000 N) for 30 seconds without failing.
Onboard electrical and computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
systems, once inspected at the start of the season, may not be changed without prior approval. Electronic starters and launch control are forbidden. The computers must contain a telemetric
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
accident data reporting system.
Engine
Formula One engines must be naturally aspiratedNaturally-aspirated engine
A naturally aspirated engine is one common type of reciprocating piston internal combustion engine that depends solely on atmospheric pressure to counter the partial vacuum in the induction tract to draw in combustion air...
, four-stroke internal combustion petrol engines with reciprocating circular piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s and a maximum of two intake and two exhaust valves
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
per cylinder. They must be V8 engines and have a maximum displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 2.4 litres.
Devices designed to pre-cool
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
air before it enters the cylinders are not allowed, nor is the injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
of any substance into the cylinders other than air and fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
(petrol).
Variable-length intake
Intake
An intake , or especially for aircraft inlet, is an air intake for an engine. Because the modern internal combustion engine is in essence a powerful air pump, like the exhaust system on an engine, the intake must be carefully engineered and tuned to provide the greatest efficiency and power...
and exhaust system
Exhaust system
An exhaust system is usually tubing used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes...
s are also forbidden.
The crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
and camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
s must be made of steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
or cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
. The use of carbon composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
s for the cylinder block, cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
and piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s is not allowed.
Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS - hybrid technology) is permitted beginning in 2009 provided no more than 400 kJ is used in any one lap and no more than 60 kW (80 hp) in or out is permitted. In addition to one fully charged KERS the maximum recoverable energy stored on the car may not exceed 300 kJ. To allow for taller, heavier drivers to race in a car with a KERS the weight allowance of the car was raised by 15 kg. For 2010, KERS were still permitted in Formula One, but all teams have agreed to go throughout the 2010 season without using KERS systems due to the very expensive development and possible weight balance difficulties since larger fuel tanks would have to be used.
Separate starting devices may be used to start engines in the pits and on the grid. If the engine is fitted with an anti-stall device, this must be set to cut the engine within ten seconds in the event of an accident.
Each driver is allowed to use up to eight engines during a season. A ten place starting grid penalty will be applied at each event where an additional engine is used.
Refuelling
From 2010, refuelling is no longer permitted during the race meaning every car starts with a full fuel load. The 2010 season cars are about 22 cm longer than 2009 cars to accommodate the enlarged fuel tank this necessitates.Tyres
A single supplier of tyres supplies all tyres and has done so since the 2007 season. The supplier (currently PirelliPirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
) supplies four specifications of slick dry-weather tyres, of which two are available at each race: Prime tyres (hard or medium compound) and Option tyres (soft or super-soft compound). The Prime tyre is more durable than the Option tyre, while the Option tyre provides more grip than the Prime tyre and therefore provides a faster lap time. Additionally, the supplier supplies one of intermediate and one of wet-weather tyres. Each compound is differentiated by a different color of the Pirelli logo on the sidewall; red for super-soft, yellow for soft, white for medium and silver for hard, light blue for intermediate and orange for wets. At the start of the 2011 season, the option tyre was also differentiated by a white band around the edge of the tyre to improve visibility. This temporary solution was used in Malaysia and China before the permanent solution of a colored band running alongside the Pirelli logo was adopted for the rest of the season.
Competitors are allowed only a limited number of tyre sets during a race event: eleven dry, four intermediate, three wet. Each tyre must be marked with a unique identifier during a race event. During the practice sessions drivers are limited to use of three sets of dry tyres and certain sets must be returned to the supplier before the second and third sessions. If qualifying and starting the race in dry tyres, drivers who make it to the third qualification session must use the tyres they set their grid time with to start the race. Cars must race on both type of dry compounds during a race unless intermediate or wet tyres have been used by that car in that race.
Prior to qualifying, wet- and intermediate-tyres may only be used if the track is judged wet by the race director. Starting the race behind the safety car due to heavy rain requires cars to be fitted with wet-tyres until they pit.
Heaters may be applied only to the outside of tyres.
Parc fermé
After weighing during each qualifying session, teams are required to take their cars to a place in the paddock, sectioned off by the FIA, known as parc ferméParc fermé
Parc fermé, literally meaning "closed park" in French, is a term used to describe a secure area at a Grand Prix circuit wherein the cars are driven back to the pits post-race. According to the FIA Formula One regulations, the area must be sufficiently large and secure so as to prevent unauthorised...
; they may not do work on the cars, other than routine maintenance, until they are released from parc fermé for the race the next morning.
If a team must do other significant work, body work or suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
adjustments, the car will start from the pit lane.
Race procedure
- See Formula One racingFormula One racingA Formula One race or Grand Prix is a sporting event which takes place over three days , with a series of practice and qualifying sessions prior to a race on Sunday....
for a detailed schedule of a complete race weekend and further race information.
At -10:00 the grid is cleared of everyone except team mechanics, race marshals, and drivers. A team will generally want to keep its tyres off their cars and heated in their tyre-warmers for as long as possible, but they must be attached to the cars by -3:00.
Engines must be running by -1:00; at fifteen seconds to the start all personnel must be clear of the track. Two green lights signify the start of the formation lap, also known as the parade lap, during which drivers must remain in the same order (no passing) except if a car ahead has stopped due to a technical problem, or has had an accident. The cars circle the track once, usually weaving from side to side to warm up their tyres, and form up again in their starting positions on the grid. A series of short, controlled burnouts is usually performed as each driver approaches their grid box in order to maximize rear tyre temperature and clean off any debris from the parade lap.
If, for some reason, a car cannot start the race (engine failure during qualifying or practice, suspension fails, etc.), the car can still join the race, but will take a 10-position penalty at the start. For example, if the car qualifies in 3rd, but has to change an engine at any point during the race weekend prior to the actual race, the car will start from 13th position. For strategy's sake, teams will sometimes opt to start a car affected in this way from the pit lane. This means they start at the tail end of the grid; however, they can not only change an engine, but also start the race on a full load of fuel and with fresh tyres.
Gearboxes must be used for 5 consecutive events (counted as P3, the qualifying practice session and the race). A five place grid penalty will be incurred if a replacement gearbox is used. For 2011 only, each driver gets one penalty-free gearbox change.
The race is started by five red lights, controlled by FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting
Charlie Whiting
Charlie Whiting is FIA Formula One Race Director, Safety Delegate, Permanent Starter and head of the F1 Technical Department, in which capacities he generally manages the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix, inspects cars in Parc fermé before a race, enforces FIA rules, and controls the lights which...
. The lights illuminate one at a time, left to right, in one-second intervals, and then go out simultaneously after an interval of between four and seven seconds. When the lights go out, the race begins. Should the start need to be aborted for any reason, all five red lights will come on as normal, but instead of going out, the three orange lights will flash. All engines are stopped and the start resumes from the five minute point. If a single driver raises his hand to indicate that he can't start, the marshall for that row will wave a yellow flag, then after a few seconds, both the red and orange lights will extinguish and the green lights will come on to indicate another formation lap.
Scoring
The Driver's and Constructor's Championships are decided by points, which are awarded according to the place in which a driver classifies at each grand prix. To receive points a racer need not finish the race, but at least 90% of the winner's race distance must be completed. Therefore, it is possible for a driver to receive some points even though he retired before the end of the race. In that case the scoring is based on the distance completed in comparison to other drivers. It is also possible for the lower points not to be awarded (as at the 2005 United States Grand Prix2005 United States Grand Prix
The 2005 United States Grand Prix was one of the most controversial Formula One motor races in modern history. It was held on June 19, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the ninth race of the 2005 Formula One season. Out of 20 cars entered for the race, only the six cars from the teams...
) because insufficient drivers completed 90% of the winner's distance. The system was revised in 2003 and was later revised for the 2010 season because of the 4 new teams entering the sport. The scoring system from 2010 is:
| Driver completed 90% of winner's race distance | |
| 1st place | 25 points |
| 2nd place | 18 points |
| 3rd place | 15 points |
| 4th place | 12 points |
| 5th place | 10 points |
| 6th place | 8 points |
| 7th place | 6 points |
| 8th place | 4 points |
| 9th place | 2 points |
| 10th place | 1 point |
| 11th place onwards | No points |
For scoring systems prior to 2010, refer to the List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems.
Drivers finishing lower than tenth place receive no points.
If the race had for some reason to be abandoned before 75% of the planned distance (rounded up to the nearest lap) had been completed, then the points awarded are halved: 12.5, 9, 7.5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5.
Points are awarded equally to the driver and his constructor; for example, if a driver for one team comes second, eighteen points are added to his season total; if his teammate finished third in the same race, he adds fifteen to his total and the team adds 33 (the sum of the drivers' points) to its total. The championships are awarded to whichever driver and constructor have the most points at the end of the season. In case of a tie, the FIA compares the number of times each driver has finished in each position. The championship goes to whichever had the greater number of wins; if they have the same number of wins, it goes to the driver with the greater number of second places, and so on. For example, if Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
and Alain Prost
Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur is a French racing driver. A four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion, Prost has won more titles than any driver except for Juan Manuel Fangio , and Michael Schumacher . From 1987 until 2001 Prost held the record for most Grand Prix...
are tied at the end of a season, and Prost had six wins and three second place finishes, but Senna had six wins and four second place finishes (even if he had fewer third places than Prost, etc.), Senna would be champion.
Flags
Race marshals, armed with a set of flags to give various messages to drivers, are positioned at numerous points around the track during every race. Flags have different meanings depending on their colour; the colours (with PantonePantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
values as specified by the FIA) signify as follows:
| Flag | Pantone Value | Description | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
YellowC | Yellow |
|
 |
348C | Green | A green flag indicates that any previous danger has been attended to. The track is now clear, and drivers may proceed at racing speed and may again overtake. When the race director so directs, this may be displayed during the parade lap or at the beginning of a practice session; in this case all marshals positions will signal green flags. Green flashing lights are used in addition in modern races. |
 |
186C | Red | A red flag indicates that the race, practice session, or qualifying session has been suspended. All marshal stations will signal this. Drivers may not leave the pits. All drivers on the track must proceed cautiously to the red flag line and stop. There they will be reordered in their correct racing order. Sessions may be resumed or abandoned as the race director indicates. Flashing red lights are now used in addition to the flags. If the safety car is deployed, the racing cars should follow it and provisions allow for the safety car to divert the field into the pit-lane and wait there. Other than that, drivers who enter the pits will be given a drive-through. |
 |
298C | Blue |
|
 |
White | White |
|
 |
BlackC | Black | A black flag orders a particular driver to return to his pit within the next lap and report immediately to the Clerk of the Course, usually because they have been disqualified from the race. The flag is accompanied by a board with the car number of the driver on it so no mistake is made. |
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BlackC/White | Chequered | A black and white chequered flag signals the end of the race, practice session, or qualifying session. During the race it is shown first to the winner and then to the rest of the field as they finish; otherwise it is shown at a predetermined time. |
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BlackC/White | Half black | A half black and half white flag informs a driver that their behaviour has been deemed unsporting and if they do not begin acting in a sporting manner immediately they will be disqualified. A sign with the car number accompanies the flag. |
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BlackC/151C | Black with orange circle | A black flag with an orange circle (40 cm in diameter) in the centre informs a driver that their car has a mechanical problem that has the potential to harm themselves or other drivers and they must return to their pit. Shown with car number. |
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YellowC/186C | Yellow and red stripes | A yellow flag with red stripes warns drivers that the track surface ahead is slippery, or there is debris present. This could be as a result of a car spilling oil (or some other engine fluid), or because rain is starting to fall. Slippery runway in an area, either by water or oil. Drivers must slow down at that point. |
Flags, whose specifications and usage are prescribed by Appendix H (PDF) of the FIA's International Sporting Code, must measure at least 60 cm by 80 cm, excepting the red and chequered flags, which must measure at least 80 cm by 100 cm.
Penalties
Penalties may be imposed on drivers for numerous offenses, including starting prematurely, speeding in the pitlane, causing an accident, blocking unfairly, or ignoring flags of any color. There are four types of penalty which a driver may incur for violation of on-track rules:- The drive-through penalty requires the driver to enter the pitlane, drive through it while obeying its speed limit, and exit without stopping. Drive-through penalties are normally imposed for minor offences, for example crossing the white line at the end of the pit lane before passing over the end of the line, kerb-hopping at chicanes, ignoring yellow flags, or cutting corners. As a drive through penalty does not require the driver to stop at their pit, it is less costly to a driver's race times than a stop-go penalty.
- The ten-second (or "stop-go") penalty requires the driver to enter the pitlane, stop at his pit for ten seconds, and exit again. As the stop is designed to punish the driver for an offence, team mechanics are forbidden to work on the offending car at any time while the driver is serving the penalty. Stop-go penalties are generally imposed for more serious offences, such as jump starts, pit lane speeding, ignoring blue flags or unfair blocking. The ten second halt makes a stop-go penalty much more costly to a driver's race times than a drive-through penalty.
- A more extreme penalty may be imposed for more severe infractions: adding ten places to the driver's grid position at the next grand prix, e.g. if he qualified in pole positionPole positionThe term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
he would start the race eleventh from the front. - The most severe penalty in common use is a black flag, which may be imposed for ignoring penalties or for technical irregularities of any sort; it signifies that the driver has been disqualified from the race and his results for that race will not count toward the championship.
- If the black flag is not considered sufficient for the offense that the driver has committed, they may be banned for a number of races after the event.
- The most extreme punishment of all (used for seriously endangering the life of another driver) is to be excluded from the drivers world championship that year. Such cases may, of course, also be taken to court.
For the drive-through and stop-go penalties, a driver has two laps from the time his team hears of the penalty to enter the pits; if he does not pit within two laps, he will be black-flagged. The exception to this rule is if the Safety Car is deployed before a driver serves his penalty, in which case he is not allowed to serve his penalty until after the Safety Car comes back in. If he incurs a penalty within the last five laps of the race, he need not pit at all; instead, twenty-five seconds will be added to his total race time in case of a drive-through penalty, and thirty seconds in case of stop-go penalty.
External links
- Current Formula One Technical Regulations - 2010. Published by the FIA on 2010-06-23.
- Current Formula One Sporting Regulations - 2010. Published by the FIA on 2010-06-23.
- Formula One Rules & Regulation Updates