FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed that the rule regarding the points system in shortened Formula 1 races will be changed.
A new approach to awarding points in shortened races was introduced last year following the events of the 2021 Belgian GP when half points were awarded after the drivers had completed only three laps behind the Safety Car. According to the new rule, the number of points awarded depended on the number of laps completed.
The drivers did not complete the full distance of the 2022 Japanese GP because of difficult weather conditions. Max Verstappen won the race, while Charles Leclerc finished in 3rd place after having received a penalty.
The drivers completed 28 of 53 laps, meaning that Verstappen and Leclerc were set to get 19 and 12 points respectively according to the rule. However, the top 10 drivers were awarded full points which allowed the Dutchman to clinch his second world title.
The confusion was caused by the interpretation of the rule as it would be applied only to the races that had not been resumed.
Ben Sulayem revealed that the rule would be modified to avoid confusion in the future.
“Yes, it’s changing. Steve [Nielsen], now, who is the sporting director, is going to improve it,” he told Motorsport.com.
“Going back to Japan. First of all, if you look, before the next race, we had a complete report [on the events that took place]. It was never done before. We had it on the website of the FIA.
“Then coming to the points: who chose that? The teams. Who approved them? The teams. We just had to implement them. And who takes the blame? Us. Honestly. Where is the fairness? Tell me. This frustrates [me].”
