Formula 1 drivers have welcomed the FIA’s decision to drop the fastest lap bonus point from the 2025 regulations.
The point, only awarded if the driver finished in the top 10, was introduced in 2019 as a way of adding extra interest to races.
It has often been taken by drivers who had enough of a gap behind them to make a pit stop for fresh tyres in the closing stages without losing a position.
Somewhat controversially in the last race in Singapore Daniel Ricciardo pitted and by taking fastest lap ensured that Lando Norris didn’t get it.
It was widely assumed that RB had called Ricciardo in to help the title campaign of sister team Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen.
When asked about the change in Austin on Thursday most drivers agreed that it was a good decision.
“I always thought the point for fastest lap was a bit pointless,” said GPDA director George Russell. “Because it would always be the driver who was having a tough race in the top 10 who would pit, put new tyres on, and gain the extra point. So I never really saw the benefit of that, so sort of glad to see that that’s gone.”
“I always was of the opinion that it was a not-needed point in the points system of F1, mainly because of how it is achieved,” said Carlos Sainz. “Right now, that point goes to the one that has a free pit stop one lap to the end of the race.
“So it’s not showing who is the fastest guy in the race, and he deserves one point for being the fastest guy.
“It’s a point that goes to the guy that by chance or by luck or by race situation has a free pit stop at some point of the race. It’s not always the case. Not always, but in a lot of occasions, most of the times.”
Sainz suggested that pole position would be more worthy of earning a point.
“Pole position is something that, at least in F1, is given a lot of value,” said the Ferrari driver. “Qualifying is something that media people keep a lot of importance to know.
“And obviously as drivers in qualifying, we like being the fastest because it shows you’ve maybe have done the cleanest lap. You’ve taken maybe more risks. You’ve put everything on the line to go on pole.
“And a point for that in a tight field makes sense. In a field where only one car is going to get all the pole positions makes less sense. But in the ideal scenario of a tight field and one guy going for it in qualifying and getting that pole position, I think it could make more sense than the fastest lap of the race.”
Esteban Ocon agreed that pole was a better use of a bonus point.
“I think for us drivers, being on pole is something very important to us,” said the Alpine driver.
“It’s something that we put a lot of effort on and that is very rewarding. On the race, we race to win. You don’t necessarily race to be fastest on one lap.
“I never thought that this is a good thing, to have one point, for the race. But for pole position, it would be much more rewarding and that’s something I would prefer.”
