Formula 1 has a rule for what happens if two drivers finish the season on the same points: the driver with the most grand prix wins takes the title. If wins are also level, the count moves to second places, then thirds, and so on. A motorsport news site noted in December 2025 that this rule has never actually been used to decide a championship.
That tells you something about the points system. A win is worth 25 points and second place is worth 18, so a gap of seven points between first and second makes ties rare. The scale also stops at tenth place, and in July 2024 the F1 Commission unanimously decided against extending it. A bonus point for the fastest lap was dropped from 2025.
Two caveats. I couldn’t find a current official source for the tie-break, so I leaned on a news site and a 2016 FIA rulebook, which says the same thing. And the 2026 calendar changed during the year after races were lost to the Middle East conflict, so the points available this season depend on which sources you trust.
My full guide covers the scales, sprints, and cut-short races: more
