Formula 1 race underway at Australia. [Credits: X/ Formula]

Why Is There No Extra Point for Fastest Lap in 2025? Formula 1 Rule Change for Fastest Lap Explained!

Formula 1 has introduced a new rule change in 2025.

Formula 1 race underway at Australia. [Credits: X/ Formula]

Formula 1 has had many different rule changes throughout their history. The point system of Formula 1 has also gone through many changes over the years. Formula 1 introduced a new rule change ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 championship. On the surface, this change seems minor and insignificant. However, throughout the years this rule has come into clutch for many drivers and their championship campaign. There are only one-way drivers can earn points in a Formula 1 race, i.e. by finishing the race in Top-10. There are also points given during the sprint-race weekend. But there are no rules for any other kind of points allotted to the drivers.

However, Formula 1 had a bonus point system in play before the 2025 season. The points were awarded to the drivers on basis of fastest lap during a race. In 2024, the fastest lap points played a vital role in Max Verstappen and Lando Norris’s championship fight alive. This bonus point system has been in play since 2019. Formula 1 has decided that they won’t be giving out points on basis fastest laps anymore.

What Was Fastest Lap Bonus Point?

The Fastest Lap Point was introduced for the first time in 2019 season. The race record or the fastest lap set during the race among all the drivers of the grid, and is timed by the FIA officials. If a driver finished in the top-10 and they also set the fastest lap during the race. The rule suggested that they would be awarded a bonus point for setting a fastest lap of the race.

F1 has decided to scrap this point system from 2025. The reason suggested by Formula 1 is equally valid. The FIA suggested that this bonus point was being stolen from teams late in the race. Usually, the other teams which were not in the Top-10, used to push their drivers late in the race. They often made pit stops to get fresh tires and fresher tires meant that the cars would be faster around the track. The top-10 drivers would be busy fighting for points and podiums and thus they won’t have enough speed left in their tires to set a fast lap.

FASTEST LAP FOR DANIEL RICCIARDO!

The Aussie pitted on the penultimate lap 💪#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/T46xPnNgLW
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 22, 2024

A prime example was the how the Singapore Grand Prix played out in 2024. Daniel Ricciardo who was not going to score any points in his RB stole the fastest lap point from Lando Norris thwarting his championship chances against Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Formula 1 wants to avoid these situations in the future and thus the bonus lap points won’t return to the grid.

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Formula 1 2025 Season

Rohan Singh

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I work as a Writer at The Playoffs specialising in NHL, Formula 1 and Motorsports. I got into online journalism a couple of years ago. I used to be an intern for a website managing their Formula 1 content and then I served an entire year as a contractual writer.