What Is The 75% Rule In F1?

In F1, the 75% rule refers to the minimum race distance that must be completed for full points to be awarded. If a race is stopped before 75% of the scheduled distance is completed, then a reduced points system is used.

According to the current F1 sporting regulations, the points awarded depend on what percentage of the race distance was completed before the race ended:

• No points are awarded at all unless the race leader has completed at least two laps without a safety car or virtual safety car intervention
• From two laps up to 25% of the scheduled distance, only the top 5 score, on a 6-4-3-2-1 scale
• Between 25% and 50% of the distance, the top 9 score, on a 13-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale
• Between 50% and 75% of the distance, the top 10 score, on a 19-14-12-9-8-6-5-3-2-1 scale
• At 75% or more of the race distance, full points are awarded on the standard 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 scale

The reduced scales replace the half-points system that operated until 2021, and they sit within the wider structure of the F1 points system, which governs how every grand prix and sprint is scored.

These rules were updated in 2022 to avoid a repeat of the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where half points were awarded despite only three laps being completed behind the safety car in heavy rain, without a single lap of green-flag racing.

Historical context

The 75% rule has come into play in several notable F1 races throughout history. For example, in the 1991 Australian Grand Prix, the race was stopped after 14 laps due to heavy rain, and half points were awarded since less than 75% of the race distance had been completed. Similarly, in the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, the race was stopped after 31 laps due to a torrential downpour, and half points were awarded as well.

These instances demonstrate how the 75% rule has been a longstanding part of F1 regulations, ensuring that points are awarded fairly based on the conditions and the amount of racing completed. The rule has undergone some modifications over the years, but its core principle remains the same.

The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix produced the same outcome, half points after a monsoon stopped the race at 31 laps, and the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix became the final race ever to award half points before the sliding scale replaced them.

Comparison to other motorsports

Other racing series have different approaches to handling shortened races and points allocation. For example, in NASCAR, if a race is past the halfway point and cannot continue due to weather or other factors, the race is considered official, and full points are awarded based on the running order at the time of the red flag.

In IndyCar, the rules are more similar to F1. If a race is stopped before the completion of 50% of the scheduled distance or time, half points are awarded. If the race is stopped after 50% but before 75%, full points are awarded. However, if the race is stopped after 75% of the scheduled distance or time, the race is considered complete, and full points are awarded based on the finishing order.

Driver and team perspectives

F1 drivers and team principals have varied opinions on the 75% rule and its impact on racing. Some drivers, like Lewis Hamilton, have expressed frustration with the rule, especially in cases where they feel a race could have been restarted safely. After the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton criticized the decision to award points for a race that lasted only a few laps behind the safety car, calling it a “farce.”

On the other hand, some team principals, such as Toto Wolff of Mercedes, have supported the rule, stating that it provides a fair way to award points when a race cannot be completed in full. Wolff emphasized that the rule helps to maintain the integrity of the championship and prevents teams from gaining an unfair advantage due to shortened races.

Formula 1 75% Rule FAQs

Article reviewed and updated by Jack Renn, July 2026.

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Written by

Jarrod Partridge

Jarrod Partridge is the Co-Founder of F1 Chronicle and an FIA accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following Formula 1. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered F1 races at circuits around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every race report, driver profile, and technical analysis he writes.

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