Formula 1 ditched the bonus point for fastest lap this season. Why? It caused more headaches than thrills. Get ready to understand why this rule bit the dust and what it means for Grand Prix racing.
Formula 1 has officially scrapped the bonus point for the fastest lap. This rule, brought back in 2019, won't be part of the 2025 season. The FIA and Formula One Management made the announcement last October. They didn't offer an immediate explanation. Now, the reasons are clear. This move wasn't about making races more exciting. Instead, it became a source of trouble. The bonus point was supposed to "improve the show." It aimed to make the end of a race more interesting. On paper, it seemed like a smart idea.
The Grand Idea
The point was meant to inject more excitement. One extra point for the quickest lap of the race. This would push drivers harder. Maybe they'd even pit late for fresh tires to snatch that valuable championship score. Take Lewis Hamilton, for instance, a driver with 67 fastest laps to his name. He saw the potential for 21 extra points over a season. Or think about Valtteri Bottas.
In 2019, he ignored team orders to claim the point in Australia. Bottas won that race by a whopping 20 seconds over Hamilton. Mercedes quickly learned, allowing their drivers to fight for it. It was a strategic gamble, much like how players at a $5 minimum deposit casino carefully weigh their chances for a big payout. Every decision carries weight, seeking maximum return for minimal risk.
It sounded like a win-win, didn't it? The point would reward raw speed. It would add another layer to the competition.
When Plans Go Sideways
The fastest lap point didn't quite work out as planned. It became a strategic tool, often used by teams for tactical gain. Pure pace wasn't always the goal. Remember, the point only counted if the driver finished in the top 10. Many times, a driver would get a "free pit stop" late in the race.
Someone with a big lead could pit, throw on new soft tires, and easily set the fastest lap without risking their position. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari put it plainly: "It’s a point that goes to the guy that by chance or by luck or by race situation has a free pitstop at some point in the race."
This rule wasn't about the fastest driver. It was about who could manipulate the circumstances.
Singapore Sparks the End
The breaking point arrived at last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Lando Norris seemed set to get the fastest lap. This point was crucial for him in his championship fight against Max Verstappen. Then, Daniel Ricciardo, driving for RB; Red Bull's sister team, made a late pit stop.
Ricciardo was outside the top 10, so he couldn't earn the point himself. But with fresh tires, he set the fastest lap. This move undeniably took the bonus point from Norris. Ricciardo later admitted his intentions, saying he did it "with a little bit of Red Bull in mind."
This incident clearly showed how the rule could be used for team benefit. Zak Brown, McLaren Racing CEO, didn't hold back. He called it "a nice A/B-team sporting thing that I didn’t think was allowed." The controversy led to the rule's removal. F1's official website acknowledged the dispute: "With the bonus sometimes proving a controversial topic, the decision was taken to remove it from the scoring system this year."
Drivers Weigh In
Most drivers felt the point was simply unnecessary. George Russell of Mercedes didn't mince words. “I always thought the point for fastest lap was a bit pointless. It would always be the driver who was having a tough race in the top-10 who would put new tyres on and gain the extra point." Esteban Ocon of Alpine agreed: "In the race, we race to win. You don't necessarily race to be fastest on one lap."
Did drivers genuinely push for this point, or was it just a fortunate extra? Their views were important.
A Look Back
The fastest lap point has a history. It was part of the very first F1 World Championship season in 1950. It stayed until the end of the 1959 season. Back then, lap times were measured to one decimal place. The fastest lap was even shared four times. Seven drivers famously split the honor – and a seventh of a point each – at the 1954 British Grand Prix. Its return in 2019 brought it full circle. However, this comeback was short-lived.
Does history always repeat itself successfully? This time, the rerun didn't last. The rule faced too many issues.
Off the Books
Ultimately, the bonus point failed to consistently make races more exciting. It became a loophole. It caused arguments. Many saw it as an arbitrary addition to the scoring system. Formula 2 and Formula 3 will still award a bonus point for the fastest lap, provided the driver finishes in the top 10. But Formula 1 decided on a different path. The checkered flag has waved on the fastest lap point.
This decision cleans up the rules. It keeps the focus squarely on direct competition. Now, only your race performance truly matters for championship points.