FIA changes F1 points system after Belgian GP debacle

The FIA has altered F1's sporting regulations regarding shortened races as a result of last summer's washout at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

Appalling weather marked by persistent rain washed out the twelfth round of the 2021 F1 world championship after just a handful of laps behind the safety car.

The debacle left ticket holders in the grandstands and around the track frustrated by the truncated race.

But the three-lap procession officially sanctioned Red Bull's Max Verstappen as the day's winner, while half-points were awarded to the top-ten drivers in the running order.

However, heavy criticism rained down on F1 in the aftermath of the event.

• Read also: FIA confirms three F1 sprint events for 2022 - and changes

As a result, at Monday's meeting of the F1 Commission, the FIA has implemented a change to the points system for shortened races, with the new rules stating that no championship points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed by the race leader in normal running conditions, that is without the presence of a safety car or virtual safety car.

If the race leader has completed more than two laps but less than 25% of the scheduled race distance, only the top five finishers will be awarded points according to the following table: 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.

For races where the race leader has completed more than 25 per cent but less than under 50 of the race distance, the top nine drivers will receive points based on the following table: 13, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Finally, for races where the race leader has completed between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the race distance, the following points will be issued to the top 10 drivers: 19, 14, 12, 9, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1.

The FIA's proposed changes to F1's rules are set to be permanently approved at the next meeting of the governing body's World Motor Sport Council.

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