F1 Points for fastest lap.
Discussion
Copied from Autosport. Thoughts? Personally think it's a terrible idea.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for an extra Formula 1 world championship point to be awarded for fastest lap, starting from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The initiative now has to be passed by an e-vote of the Formula 1 Commission in order to be added to the sporting regulations before the first race.
It had already gone through the Sporting Working Group and the Strategy Group, and would usually go to the Commission before the WMSC - but on this occasion the e-vote was not completed beforehand, so the usual approval procedure was reversed.
A point was previously awarded for fastest lap during the first 10 years of the world championship in 1950-59.
It was crucial to the outcome of the drivers' championship in 1958, when Mike Hawthorn pipped Stirling Moss to the title by a single point, having set two fastest laps more than his countryman.
The rules will follow a similar format to the one employed in Formula E, with the bonus point only being awarded if the driver concerned finishes in the top 10.
Had an extra point been awarded in 2008, Felipe Massa would have beaten Lewis Hamilton to the world championship - although this comes with the caveat that at the time no drivers were competing on the basis that fastest lap was relevant.
That is the only instance since 2000 where fastest-lap points would have altered the drivers' champion.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved plans for an extra Formula 1 world championship point to be awarded for fastest lap, starting from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The initiative now has to be passed by an e-vote of the Formula 1 Commission in order to be added to the sporting regulations before the first race.
It had already gone through the Sporting Working Group and the Strategy Group, and would usually go to the Commission before the WMSC - but on this occasion the e-vote was not completed beforehand, so the usual approval procedure was reversed.
A point was previously awarded for fastest lap during the first 10 years of the world championship in 1950-59.
It was crucial to the outcome of the drivers' championship in 1958, when Mike Hawthorn pipped Stirling Moss to the title by a single point, having set two fastest laps more than his countryman.
The rules will follow a similar format to the one employed in Formula E, with the bonus point only being awarded if the driver concerned finishes in the top 10.
Had an extra point been awarded in 2008, Felipe Massa would have beaten Lewis Hamilton to the world championship - although this comes with the caveat that at the time no drivers were competing on the basis that fastest lap was relevant.
That is the only instance since 2000 where fastest-lap points would have altered the drivers' champion.
Agree with OP, not the best idea IMO. We all know the cars can run faster but don't to conserve tyres/fuel or for the sake of reliability etc.
Might see cars lower down the running order pitting late to go for it, or - with enough of a lead it's not impossible that the race leader could pit late for fresh tyres & rack up a bigger points haul than before...
For me there ought to be points on offer for qualifying.
Might see cars lower down the running order pitting late to go for it, or - with enough of a lead it's not impossible that the race leader could pit late for fresh tyres & rack up a bigger points haul than before...
For me there ought to be points on offer for qualifying.
Deesee said:
Top 10 only eligible...
.but couldn't someone destined not to finish in the Top 10, do the fastest lap and deny someone the opportunity to take a point.It's not the "fastest lap in the top ten".
So a number of teams with zero chance of scoring points, coming in to put on new, softest tyres with a couple of laps to go, going out to do quali laps (getting in the way of others, perhaps?) right at the end, all in the name of denying a potential rival in 9th or 10th place (or higher?) from the chance of doing the same?
JonChalk said:
Deesee said:
Top 10 only eligible...
.but couldn't someone destined not to finish in the Top 10, do the fastest lap and deny someone the opportunity to take a point.It's not the "fastest lap in the top ten".
So a number of teams with zero chance of scoring points, coming in to put on new, softest tyres with a couple of laps to go, going out to do quali laps (getting in the way of others, perhaps?) right at the end, all in the name of denying a potential rival in 9th or 10th place (or higher?) from the chance of doing the same?
Hence why.. "top 10 only eligible".
If anyone did come in (for fresh rubber), and get in the way, then they would have blue flags as they would be a lap down.
Edit, anyway what's a super licence renewal cost these days, 5,000 USD per point is it not!
& lets see it in action if it doesn't work pull it (like the Quali debacle 4 yrs ago).
Edited by Deesee on Friday 8th March 13:39
not sure why people are against this. if it means drivers have to push to get a fast lap in, im all for it. better than fuel saving the whole race and could be used quite tactically. do you do it early on with a a heavy fuel load but fresh tyres, on an out lap after pitting, at the end when on wornish tyres but a light fuel load. we wont know until the end of the race whos got it, and it could mean a lot of points for someone
other series like nascar/ IndyCar do it successfully
other series like nascar/ IndyCar do it successfully
37chevy said:
not sure why people are against this. if it means drivers have to push to get a fast lap in, im all for it. better than fuel saving the whole race and could be used quite tactically. do you do it early on with a a heavy fuel load but fresh tyres, on an out lap after pitting, at the end when on wornish tyres but a light fuel load. we wont know until the end of the race whos got it, and it could mean a lot of points for someone
other series like nascar/ IndyCar do it successfully
Im sure they have upped the fuel limit for 2019, so may bring more strategy in (fuel for a fast run at the end or not), more engine modes, maybe even some overtaking!other series like nascar/ IndyCar do it successfully
I know this is unusual on F1 comment sites, but I could try to be positive here.
Could be a chance for the B drivers to shine. What I mean is Bottas or LeClerc or whoever has to go and get new boots on as they dont want say... Vettel in the lead + fastest lap to get 26 to Hamiltons 18. So while in the dirty air Hamilton holds station but Bottas in 5th with spare space goes off to rob the point from Vettel to make it only 25 to 18 for that race.
Same in reverse for Gasly or Le Clerc.
Or even a way for Verstappen to cement 3rd in the standings while Vettel and Hamilton concentrate solely on 1st / 2nd.
Worth giving it a try I reckon. There have been races I have watched on timeslip in 17/18 that I had to FFWD from lap 40 through to 60 odd..
Could be a chance for the B drivers to shine. What I mean is Bottas or LeClerc or whoever has to go and get new boots on as they dont want say... Vettel in the lead + fastest lap to get 26 to Hamiltons 18. So while in the dirty air Hamilton holds station but Bottas in 5th with spare space goes off to rob the point from Vettel to make it only 25 to 18 for that race.
Same in reverse for Gasly or Le Clerc.
Or even a way for Verstappen to cement 3rd in the standings while Vettel and Hamilton concentrate solely on 1st / 2nd.
Worth giving it a try I reckon. There have been races I have watched on timeslip in 17/18 that I had to FFWD from lap 40 through to 60 odd..
Supersam83 said:
Here's the extra points in 2018 if fastest lap was awarded a point:
Bottas - 7
Danny Ric - 4
Vettel - 3
Hamilton - 3
Max V - 2
Kimi - 1
K Mag - 1
Would that have made any difference to final standings, though?Bottas - 7
Danny Ric - 4
Vettel - 3
Hamilton - 3
Max V - 2
Kimi - 1
K Mag - 1
edit: No - Max would have been 1 pt behind Kimi instead of 2, other than that, gaps were way too big for it to have influenced anything.
Edited by JonChalk on Friday 8th March 14:06
This is definitely worth a try for a season, to see if it will liven things up in the last 10 laps of races. My guess is that it could, but only if the engineers, strategists & number-crunchers are prepared to take a bit of a risk. Perhaps a single point won't be sufficient potential reward to change their cautious mindset. It isn't an obviously stupid idea like Bernie's double points for the last race.
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