Among the first to welcome the news that drivers, and their teams, will now be awarded a point for setting the fastest lap of the race - providing they finish in the top ten - was the sport's technical boss, Ross Brawn.

"Together with the FIA we have been committed to evaluating ideas and solutions that can improve the show whilst maintaining the integrity of our sport,” he told the official F1 website.

"We felt that the reintroduction, after sixty years, of a point for the driver of the fastest lap in the race goes in this direction," he added.

"We have been considering this solution - which represents a response to detailed research carried out with thousands of our fans around the world – for a number of months."

Award a point for the driver posting the fastest lap isn't a new idea, indeed, other than the practice being used by Formula E, it has also been used by F2 (previously GP2) and GP3 for many years, and was used in F1 between the inaugural season of F1 in 1950 and continued until 1959.

"How many times have we heard the drivers on the radio ask the team about who holds the fastest lap?" says Brawn, though most will only recall Fernando Alonso as the Spaniard sought to liven up another lost afternoon in the McLaren, even though under the 'top ten' rule he would not have qualified.

"Now it will no longer be only a matter of record and prestige, but there will be a concrete motivation that will make the final part of the race even more interesting.

"Sometimes it is useful to remind ourselves of the heritage of our sport to move forward."

In 2018, Valtteri Bottas posted 7 of the season's fastest laps and consequently picked up the DHL Award, had the system been in place then, he would have finished third in the championship, as opposed to fifth.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Steve W, 12/03/2019 10:24

"While we're on this "heritage" mindset, how about shared drives and shared points. That occurred from 1950 to 1957... "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by @R1Racing71, 12/03/2019 10:16

"
This has the potential to change the dynamic of the race and the drivers mind-set, particularly In the closing stages between the championship protagonists. Championships have often been decided by a single point so Ferrari / Mercedes won’t want to give anything away – I remain cautiously optimistic that this could prove entertaining.

My only concern is that if someone bins it in the closing stages chasing lap time, the race could finish behind the SC or VSC.
"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by doppelganger, 12/03/2019 8:34

"F1 continues it's decline. No, Ross, you've got this one wrong."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Brawn welcomes return of fastest lap reward

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page