Kubica: Point for fastest lap could create 'strange scenarios'

  • Published on 14 Mar 2019 10:34
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Robert Kubica believes that F1's new rule that will award a driver with one point if he sets the fastest lap and finishes inside the top ten could create some "strange scenarios".

Kubica played down the importance of the rule for Williams, who is likely to be competing outside the top ten after an unfavourable pre-season test.

“I think unfortunately it doesn’t affect us a lot at least for now," Kubica said. "An extra point I think it can unlock some strange scenarios at the end of the race with some cars pitting.

"All of a sudden we will see people, cars coming in. It will depend, it will be a kind of domino I think. But as I said we are not really interested about it.”

Daniel Ricciardo, who races for Renault this year, says that he is in support of the new rule, and is happy that it is restricted to drivers inside the top ten.

“It’s good that they’ve at least restricted it to the top 10 so you do have something potentially to lose if you’re going to pit for a fresh set of tyres to get the fastest lap,” he said.

However, Ricciardo doesn't think it will prove to be important in this year's championship fight. 

“I haven’t really thought that much about it,” he added. “We’ll see how it plays out. I don’t think it will decide a championship. It could do, but I don’t think it will.”

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • Well, Kubica has a point. The top 3 teams are often more then a pitstop ahead of the rest. so the man in sixth position, can easily make a pitstop to gain the fastest lap.

    • + 0
    • Mar 14 2019 - 12:51
  • Kean

    Posts: 692

    Not really in favor.... of you’re a pit stop ahead the following driver it is too easy a way to collect more points. Unfair to the driver just ahead. Or a junior team, outside of the top ten, can pit and set a fastest lap towards the end of the race in order to block a rival to the senior team to pick up more points.

    • + 0
    • Mar 14 2019 - 14:34
    • They announced that the rule is you have to be in the top 10 in order to get the fast lap point. But that doesn't mean that those who have position, say 6th or 7th and have more than a pit stop gap in time wouldn't box and get some new tires to try to get the point. It could spice things up though, because you never know what might go wrong with a pit stop. I don't think the leading teams would do it just for an extra point as it's not worth the risk, but for the teams lower down say 9th or 10th it looks more tempting to pick up that extra point.

      • + 0
      • Mar 14 2019 - 18:20

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,061
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar