The odd timing of F1’s ban on fastest lap point
Formula 1 has banned the bonus point for the fastest lap from 2025 after Daniel Ricciardo stole Lando Norris' point at the Singapore GP.
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Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris (Via: Imago)
In 2019, Formula 1 introduced a bonus point for the driver with the fastest lap of the race. This added an interesting new element which could prove crucial for the championship. Now, after five seasons, the sport has decided to ban this rule.
During the 2024 Singapore GP, RB’s Daniel Ricciardo clinched the fastest lap from Lando Norris at the end of the race. McLaren argued that this was a concerning incident considering Red Bull’s connection with the Faenza-based squad. However, some believed that Ricciardo just wanted the fastest lap to end his F1 career on a high note.
Now, just a couple of weeks after the race in Singapore, Formula 1 has announced that the fastest lap bonus point will no longer be awarded from the 2025 season. The timing of this decision has raised eyebrows in the paddock.
One complaint from McLaren enough to change an F1 rule?
Formula 1 is a complex sport with several elements to every race weekend. For the first time since 2021, the sport is witnessing an intense fight for the championship. With McLaren’s Lando Norris taking the challenge to reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Norris did lose out on the bonus point in Singapore which could play an impact in the title fight if things go down to the wire. F1 might want to avoid such a possibility in the future and as such decided to ban the bonus point from next season.
However, the sport seemed to not be bothered by the bonus point during the 2021 title. When Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton headed into the season finale on equal points. If F1 and the FIA did not want the bonus point to play too big of a role in the championship, the could’ve put an end to the rule after witnessing the 2021 season.
It is a peculiar sight to see F1 change its rule right after McLaren lodged a complaint. This does not mean that the sport is being biased towards a particular team completely. However, this will raise questions in the minds of fans.
If Formula 1 wanted to stop the loophole capitalized by Ricciardo, it could’ve done this years ago, instead of waiting five years after the point was first introduced. This topic will likely continue to be discussed in the paddock for the coming weeks.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)