FIA and F1 come up with new points system for red flagged races

In 2021 and the years prceeding, it was simple: if less than 75% of the total length of the race was run, half points would be handed out. After the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, there was much criticism of that system. At the time, the safety car was sent onto the track to do two full laps so that at least half points could be handed out. As of 2022, that rule will no longer apply.

Here's how the new points distributions work

Instead, Formula 1 will work with increments of race length driven, starting with less than two full laps without a safety car. In that case, in fact, no points will be distributed. The next step is points between two full laps without the safety car and 25% of the total race length. In that case, the distribution of points is as follows:

1. 1st - 6 points
2. 2nd - 4
3. 3rd - 3
4. 4th - 2
5. 5th - 1

Should it be the case that the race has passed the 25% of length, but does not exceed 50%, the FIA has devised the following the following distribution of points:

1. 1st - 13 points
2. 2nd - 10
3. 3rd - 8
4. 4th - 6
5. 5th - 5
6. 6th - 4
7. 7th - 3
8. 8th - 2
9. 9th - 1

The final step where fewer points than normal are handed out is when between 50% and 75% of the total race length has been run. In that case, the entire top ten will receive points, but more than used to be the case with the 75% rule. It looks like this:

1. 1st - 19 points
2. 2nd - 14
3. 3rd - 10
4. 4th - 8
5. 5th - 6
6. 6th - 5
7. 7th - 4
8. 8th - 3
9. 9th - 2
10. 10th - 1

Half points are history

The new way of distributing points immediately means that scoring half points is now officially no longer possible for a driver. The chances that we will see one of these new point scoring systems in action soon is very low. Formula 1 has only had to end a Grand Prix before 75% race distance was achieved six times since 1975.