The Formula 1 will abolish from next season the one-point bonus to the driver who records the fastest lap in a Grand Prix, the race announced on Thursday. International Automobile Federation (FIA).
This additional point, which had already been awarded in the 1950s, was reintroduced in 2019 provided that the driver who achieves the fastest lap also finishes in the top ten.
This bonus can have implications in the classification of a long season of 24 grand prix, like this year.
The FIA, governing body of Formula 1, made the announcement on the eve of the United States Grand Prixthis weekend in Austin, Texas.
The measure is one of the changes introduced in the sporting and technical regulations for 2024 and 2025 after its approval by the World Motorsport Council.
The importance given to the extra point was demonstrated at last month’s Singapore Grand Prix, where Australian Daniel Ricciardo (RB) pitted for new tires and set the best lap despite not being in the top ten of the race. the test.
The driver of RB, Red Bull’s sister team, thus deprived rivals such as the British Lando Norris, a contender for the title, of a possible extra point.
Norris, second in the World Championship standings after Max Verstappen (Red Bull), was the one who had the fastest lap when the race entered its definition and it was taken from him by Ricciardo.
In another of the approved modifications, the requirement for a young driver to participate in free trials will go from one to two times per car and season.