Following the chaos of the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA is changing the rule

The Belgian Grand Prix 2021 remained in the annals of sport not for its racing spectacle, but rather for the fact that no race took place.

The FIA, respecting the regulations, had nevertheless awarded half of the points even though no race had actually taken place – in the order of the starting grid. Verstappen had then won 17.5 points thanks to his pole position, ending up on a surreal podium alongside George Russell in second place and Lewis Hamilton in third.

From now on, the rule changes.

A minimum of 2 complete laps.

To score points in the race, from now on, it will be necessary to complete a minimum of 2 full laps (timed line = 3 flying laps), without the safety car or virtual safety car being deployed.

Less than 25% of the GDP.

As long as the first one has not run at least 25% of the distance of the originally scheduled Grand Prix, points will only be awarded to the top 5 according to the scale:

1st: 6 points

2ème: 4 points

3rd: 3 points

4th grade: 2 points.

5th: 1 point

Between 25% and 50% of the GP

Once 25% of the distance has been covered, but not yet 50%, the first 9 will score points according to the following scale:

1st: 13 points

2ème: 10 points

3rd: 8 points

4th: 6 points

5th grade: 5 points

6th grade: 4 points

7th: 3 points

8th: 2 points

9th: 1 point

Between 50% and 75% of the GP.

When the distance covered by the leader in the Grand Prix is greater than 50% but less than 75% of the total planned distance, another scale has been provided for the top 10:

1st: 19 points

2e: 14 points

3rd: 12 points

4th: 9 points

5th: 8 points

6th grade: 6 points

7th: 5 points

8th: 3 points

9th: 2 points

10th: 1 point

Beyond 75% of the GDP

If the leader has covered more than 75% of the scheduled race distance, then the regular scale applies, which is:

1st: 25 points

2ème: 18 points

3rd grade: 15 points.

4th: 12 points

5th grade: 10 points

6th grade: 8 points

7th: 6 points

8th: 4 points

9th: 2 points.

10th: 1 point

The 2021 Belgian Grand Prix gave rise to massive anger from spectators who had waited all day in the rain without seeing any on-track action and without being compensated. The Grand Prix organizers and F1 had then proposed a meager compensation.

This new points system implies that at Spa last year, a race of at least 2 laps should have taken place, otherwise points could not have been awarded. If, for safety reasons, it could not have happened, the organizers would have been required to refund tickets due to the cancellation of the event, which was not the case in 2021.