Formula 1’s official X account exhorted its followers to follow its link for the “full story” on why the series has abruptly decided to drop its bonus point for fastest lap.
However the series’ own report offered no explanation for why it had decided to drop a rule it introduced just five years ago.
The enthusiasm with which F1 launched its bonus point for fastest lap contrasted sharply with the quiet admission it has been dropped. Back in 2019 Ross Brawn, F1’s managing director for motorsport at the time, promised it would “improve the show whilst maintaining the integrity of our sport.”
F1 was quick to point out it previously awarded a bonus point for fastest lap from 1950 to 1959. Apparently it cared little why the rule was then deemed unnecessary and dropped for 60 years.
After the first season under the new rule, Brawn insisted “generally it’s been successful.” More contentiously, the championship insisted those who were sceptical about the rule when it was introduced had been won over.
“Avid fans were erupting like in an outcry, how dare we add a gimmick, we’re trying to be like NASCAR or whatever,” said F1’s global research director Matt Roberts in late 2019. “Then, actually, after the first few races we did some surveys and everyone said they love it.”
So as far as F1 is concerned the bonus point for fastest lap is a tremendous addition to the championship, beloved even by those fans who initially had doubts about it, which is now being dropped for reasons too trivial to deserve explanation.
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The reality is few fans seemed particularly enthusiastic about the rule, the drivers were similarly sceptical, it added little to the competition and has now been deemed more trouble than it’s worth.
RaceFans readers have been consistent on the first point. A majority of our audience didn’t want the rule to be introduced in the first place and weren’t won over by their first impression of it. When the bonus point became a focus of debate following the Singapore Grand Prix three weeks ago, again a majority preferred getting rid of it to keeping it in its current or a modified form.
The drivers voiced their doubts as soon as the rule was announced. “I don’t see the benefit of it” remarked Max Verstappen, which neatly encapsulated the pointlessness (no pun intended) of the…
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