PARIS – The F1 Commission has voted in favor of a change to the Sporting Regulations aimed at avoiding a race similar to the Belgian Grand Prix last year.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was declared the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix after two laps were run behind the safety car in a torrential downpour, which made racing impossible. Verstappen and the rest of the top-10 were awarded half points for two laps of work.
The new Sporting Regulations dictate that no points will be awarded during a Grand Prix unless at least two laps were completed by the race leader without a safety car or virtual safety car. If the race leader completes more than two laps, but less than 25 percent of the scheduled distance, the top-five finishers will be awarded six, four, three, two and one points, respectively.
If the leader has completed 25 percent of the race but less than 50 percent of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded to the top-nine as follows:
1st – 13 points
2nd – 10 points
3rd – 8 points
4th – 6 points
5th – 5 points
6th – 4 points
7th – 3 points
8th – 2 points
9th – 1 point
Should the leader complete 50 percent of the race, but less than 75 percent of the scheduled race distance, points will be awarded to the top-10 as follows:
1st – 19 points
2nd – 14 points
3rd – 12 points
4th – 9 points
5th – 8 points
6th – 6 points
7th – 5 points
8th – 3 points
9th – 2 points
10th – 1 point
Any race completion percentage after 75 percent will award full points to the top-10 finishers.