F1 TEAMS SET TO VOTE ON NEW POINTS STRUCTURE FOR 2025 RACES AND FIX 'FRUSTRATION'

Formula 1 teams are set to vote on a new points structure for the 2025 races this week in what could shape up the landscape of the sport. The current system could be amended, with points going all the way down to the 12th finish in an attempt to fix what many believe to be an issue with the current scoring.

Currently, the top 10 places are given points to drivers - which has long been the case. However, many have argued that this hugely impacts the middle of the field - being limited in their opportunities to score points.

This, leading to one high finish from a driver in the battle for the middle places essentially changing the landscape of their entire season with in one race. A proposal will be put forward at a meeting of the F1 Commission this week to amend the system, which would have no effect on the top seven but amend the scoring from eighth to twelfth.

Ferrari's team principal Fred Vasseur has already made his feelings clear on the proposal. He said: "I'm not against it. And coming from Alfa Romeo, I perfectly understand sometimes the frustration that you are doing a mega weekend, but if there is no DNF in front of you then you finish P11 and the reward is zero.

"At the moment you can finish P11 or P 20 and it is the same, so I can understand the frustration for this."

RB team principal Laurent Mekies told Motorsport.com: "Of course, I will support that. There are no backmarkers any more. There are six OEMs in F1, plus Red Bull Racing, so it's like seven top teams."

"Even the bottom five teams are large organisations now and it's very difficult to explain to the outside world, to our partners, and to our fans, that we battle for a P11 that actually grants zero points.

"If you look at the level of competitiveness of the top five teams and the reliability level of the cars, it means that most of the race you're battling theoretically for zero points, and we don't think this is right.

"We also think it's more meritocratic because, if you score points up until P12, you will avoid the effect where something completely stunning happens and somebody scores a P5 or P4 in the rain, it means the other guys can stay home for 10 races."

The potential move would have no impact on the leading drivers and teams, with them not able to score further points for higher places and therefore having very little effect on the championship picture.

With discussions set to take place this week ahead of a potential move, a majority support will be needed from teams.

Should this be approved, the amendments to the scoring system could be implemented as early as the 2025 season.

2024-04-22T22:07:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd