The Formula 1 standings are not only an important aspect of the sport, but they also have a direct impact on a team’s budget. The teams fight tooth and nail to get as high up the rankings as possible, battling over every tiny margin, all in order to be rewarded with an even bigger chunk of prize money at season’s end. While the Drivers Championship gets all the attention, it’s the coveted Constructors’ Championship (officially known as the FIA Formula One World Constructors’ Championship) that really drives the teams.
The championship is determined by the sum of all points a driver earns throughout the year. The winner of each Grand Prix receives 25 points, and the other drivers are ranked on a sliding scale up to the 10th-place finisher who scores just 1 point. Some rounds also feature a Sprint Race, with the top eight in that race receiving points.
In addition, teams earn bonus points for finishing in the first three positions of the previous season’s race. This season’s Formula 1 calendar features 24 races, with six rounds including a Sprint Race, beginning in China on March 30.
Each driver is supported by a highly-trained and expert crew of mechanics, engineers, and strategists, meaning that no single member of the team can be blamed for a poor result. This is why ‘de facto’ number ones are selected for a team, and they are often referred to as “team leaders”.
A dead heat is very rare in F1 racing, but it does happen occasionally. The decision to split the teams is made by examining their race results, with wins counted more than second and third-place finishes.