Last year in October, the FIA and Formula One Management has decided to remove the fastest lap bonus point starting in the 2025 season.

The rule, which awarded an extra point to the driver who set the fastest lap (as long as they finished in the top ten), was meant to add excitement and encourage drivers to push until the end of the race. However, over time, teams found ways to use it strategically rather than as a true test of speed, which led to concerns about fairness.

One of the biggest issues was that teams often used their drivers outside the top ten to steal the fastest lap point from competitors. Since drivers outside the top ten didn’t get points anyway, they had nothing to lose by making a late pit stop for fresh tyres and setting the fastest lap. This meant that drivers fighting at the front for valuable championship points often had no chance to compete for the bonus.

A clear example of this happened at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo, running in 18th place, pitted for new tyres in the final laps and set the fastest time, preventing McLaren’s Lando Norris from earning the extra point and potentially helping Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the title battle. Moves like this, while within the rules, frustrated many teams and fans, who felt that the point was being decided by strategy rather than pure driving performance.

Many drivers and experts also pointed out that the fastest lap point rarely reflected who was actually the quickest. Instead, it often depended on luck and strategy. If a top driver wanted to go for the fastest lap, they would have to take a big risk by making an extra pit stop or pushing hard on worn tyres, which wasn’t always possible when fighting for the win.

Meanwhile, drivers outside the top ten could chase the fastest lap freely, knowing that it wouldn’t affect their overall result. Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas agreed with the decision to remove the rule, saying, “It always depends on strategy. Whoever pits last will get it, so it doesn’t really mean much.”

Because of these issues, it was decided to remove the fastest lap bonus point starting with the upcoming season. The goal is to simplify race strategies and ensure that points are awarded based on a driver’s overall performance rather than last-minute strategic decisions.

“Since 2019, a driver finishing in the top 10 could earn a bonus point by setting the fastest lap of the race,” F1 stated on its official website.

“Sometimes that meant drivers would still be pushing late on trying to take the accolade, or even make late pit stops for fresh rubber to increase their return.

“But it also opened up the possibility for a car outside the top 10 to pit and take the point away from another driver, even if they weren’t going to score themselves.

“And with the bonus sometimes proving a controversial topic, the decision was taken to remove it from the scoring system this year.”

This means that F1 will return to the points system used between 2010 and 2018, where a race winner could earn a maximum of 25 points instead of 26.

While some fans may miss the extra excitement that the fastest lap point brought, the decision was made to ensure that the championship remains fair. Now, every point a driver earns will come directly from their finishing position, without the possibility of manipulation. This change should make races more straightforward and ensure that the final standings truly reflect the best performances throughout the season.