1984 · SPORTING
1984 Sporting Regulations
1984 ran 16 rounds. Points 9-6-4-3-2-1 for top 6, best 11 of 16 for drivers, all for constructors. Race target 300 km / 2 hours. Pre-qualifying required at oversubscribed events (typically 2-3 cars eliminated before Friday free practice). Niki Lauda won his third world title by 0.5 points over Prost — the closest margin in F1 history to that point — under the new 220-litre fuel rule that made the constructors' title technically demanding.
Pre-qualifying
When the entry list exceeded the 26-car grid limit, a pre-qualifying session on Friday morning eliminated the slowest entries before the main qualifying sessions. This device was used throughout the 1980s as small privateer teams joined and left the series. The last slow-car-cut pre-qualifying session in F1 was at the 1992 Mexican GP.
Points & race format
Unchanged from prior seasons: 9-6-4-3-2-1 top 6, best 11 of 16 for drivers, all counted for constructors. The 0.5-point Monaco result (rain-shortened, half points awarded) was decisive in the Lauda-Prost title race.
Last updated: 2026-04-24
This summary is editorial material prepared by F1pedia for general F1 audiences. It is not a legal reference. For binding rule text, consult the official FIA document.