Race procedure

26 changes, oldest first.

1950 introduced

Indianapolis 500 counts for the championship

The Indianapolis 500, run to its own rules, was a championship round from 1950 to 1960. Almost no European drivers entered it. Source

1951 changed

Eight rounds, best four results

The calendar grew to eight races including Indianapolis; a driver's best four results still counted. Source

1953 introduced

First championship race outside Europe and the United States

The Argentine Grand Prix opened the season, the first world championship round in South America. Source

1957 changed

Pescara Grand Prix: the longest circuit ever used

The 25.8 km Pescara road course held a championship race once. Source

1958 changed

Race distance cut to 300 km or two hours

Grands Prix were shortened from around 500 km or three hours to a minimum of 300 km or two hours. Source

1960 banned

Indianapolis 500 leaves the championship after 1960

1960 was the last year the Indianapolis 500 counted towards the world championship. Source

1970 introduced

Drivers' safety inspections lead to boycotts

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association inspected circuits; Spa was dropped after 1970 and the Nürburgring boycotted in 1970 until changes were made. Source

1973 introduced

Safety car used for the first time

A pace car was used at the Canadian Grand Prix, causing confusion over the race order. The safety car was not formalised until 1993. Source

1975 changed

Half points for a shortened race

The Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix were stopped early and paid half points, a rule applied to races under a set distance. Source

1984 changed

Half points at Monaco

The rain-shortened Monaco Grand Prix paid half points, which decided the title by half a point in Lauda's favour over Prost. Source

1990 changed

Pole sitter chooses the side of the grid (Suzuka dispute)

Senna's request to move pole to the clean side at Suzuka was refused, a factor in the first-corner collision that decided the title; the rule was later changed. Source

1993 introduced

Safety car formalised

The safety car became part of the regulations, first used under the new rules at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Source

1994 introduced

Pit-lane speed limit

A speed limit in the pit lane (80 km/h in practice, 120 km/h in races) was introduced mid-season. Source

2002 changed

Championship decided by July

Schumacher clinched the title in France with six races left, the earliest ever, prompting the 2003 points and qualifying changes. Source

2010 changed

Top-ten qualifiers start on their Q3 tyres

Drivers in Q3 had to start the race on the tyres they set their best time on (rule dropped for 2022). Source

2012 introduced

Lapped cars may unlap under the safety car

Lapped cars between the leaders were allowed to pass the safety car before a restart. Source

2014 introduced

Five-second time penalty served at a pit stop

A five-second penalty, served during a stop or added to race time, joined the drive-through and stop-and-go penalties. Source

2014 changed

Pit-lane speed limit 80 km/h

The race pit-lane limit was cut from 100 to 80 km/h at most circuits. Source

2015 introduced

Virtual safety car

After Jules Bianchi's crash at Suzuka 2014, a virtual safety car requiring drivers to slow to a set delta time was introduced; power units per season cut to four. Source

2017 introduced

Standing start after a safety-car start in wet conditions

When a race begins behind the safety car, a standing start follows once it withdraws. Source

2020 changed

Reduced-points scale for shortened races

After the two-lap Belgian Grand Prix of 2021 the rules were changed for 2022: no points unless two racing laps are completed, and a sliding scale by distance. Source

2021 introduced

Sprint qualifying at three events

A 100 km Saturday sprint set the grid at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos, with points for the top three. Source

2022 changed

Sliding points scale for shortened races

Full points only after 75% distance; reduced scales at 25% and 50%; no points under two racing laps. Source

2022 changed

Safety-car restart procedures rewritten after Abu Dhabi 2021

Lapped cars must all pass the safety car before a restart, and the race director's role was split. Source

2023 changed

Sprint shootout: separate qualifying for the sprint

Saturday became a stand-alone sprint day with its own short qualifying; Friday qualifying set the Grand Prix grid. Source

2024 changed

Sprint weekend reordered

Sprint qualifying and the sprint moved to Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, ahead of Grand Prix qualifying. Source