Formula 1 · Sporting rules 2026 / Article B5
Finish and classification
FIA · 2026 · Issue 09In short
The chequered flag, lap count and post-race controls.
Classifying cars
Cars are ranked by completed laps and, for equal lap totals, their order across the control line. A car covering less than 90% of the winner’s laps, with the threshold rounded down to a whole lap, is unclassified. Classification therefore depends on distance completed, not simply whether a car is running at the finish.
After the flag
After the finishing signal, cars go directly to parc fermé without unnecessary delay or outside assistance, apart from permitted marshal help. A winner’s celebration must remain safe and respect technical legality and the ceremony timetable. Early or late finishing signals have correction rules, and provisional results remain subject to official amendments.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Three supplied FIA documents, with different seasons: general provisions 2026 (Issue 03, 25/06/2026), sporting rules 2026 (Issue 09, 01/10/2026), and technical rules 2027 (Issue 3, 01/10/2026). Read each section for its stated season. Future changes are identified separately. Independent condensed explanations; the supplied PDFs remain the source.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗