Formula One to scrap bonus points for fastest lap 5 years after launch

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  • In the fierce battle for the F1 championship, fastest lap times are crucial. It has also become part of the strategy.
British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton drives his car during the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix in September. The popular motorsport’s governing body has decided to scrap points for fastest laps from next season. (Associated Press)

Formula One will scrap bonus points awarded to drivers who set the fastest laps in a grand prix from next season, the FIA ​​said on Thursday.

Since 2019, regulations have allocated an extra point if a driver finishes in the top 10 – which could be an important consideration in a 24-race season like 2024.

The World Motor Sport Council approved changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2024 and 2025 at a meeting and video conference in Paris, the FIA ​​said ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin.

In addition to the removal of fastest lap points, the requirement to field young drivers during free practice will increase from once per car per season to twice per car per season.

Fastest lap can be crucial when the title race is at stake, but it has also become part of the strategy and sometimes controversial when used by teams with shared ownership.

At last month’s Singapore Grand Prix, RB’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap during the final pit stop for new tires in what could be the final race of his F1 career.

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The move did not net him a point as he was outside the top ten, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen snatched points away from McLaren rival Lando Norris, who had previously is the fastest.

Norris trails Verstappen by 52 points with six rounds remaining, having scored four points for his fastest lap so far this season (including three in the last four races), with the Triple Crown winner just one 2 points.

“I would say it’s probably the right thing to get rid of it because it’s not really about speed, like who’s fastest,” said Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas at Circuit of the Americas.

“It always comes down to strategy, whoever stops last is basically going to get it, so it doesn’t mean much. I think even our car, if we stopped before the last lap and gave it our all, sometimes we were can get it.

Sauber is the only team yet to score a point this season.

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First published date: October 18, 2024 08:05 AM IST

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