Brawn believes China showed new point for fastest lap works

  • Published on 17 Apr 2019 14:15
  • comments 2
  • By: Coilin Higgins

F1 motorsport director Ross Brawn has said that the new point for fastest lap, reinstated for this season, was a good decision and that it really works.

Red Bull's Pierre Gasly grabbed the point for fastest lap in China, when he pitted from sixth place with three laps to go and grabbed the bonus point.

The team made the decision to pit Gasly with a handful of laps to go as he had a comfortable gap over the seventh-placed Renault of Daniel Ricciardo, coming out with fresh tyres and going on to take the bonus point from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

“I was particularly pleased to see that the innovation introduced in partnership with the FIA for this season, that of awarding a point to the driver setting the fastest race lap, is beginning to have an effect,” Brawn said after the race.

“The lure of an extra point, as long as it’s set by a driver who is in the top 10 at the flag, was driven by the desire to add a bit of spice to the final stages of a race, especially when the order seems more or less set. China worked out just that way."

The bonus point for fastest lap was met with some criticism when it was announced that the point was set for a return in 2019, despite not being awarded in F1 since 1959. For now, the point is only awarded to a driver if they finish within the top 10.

“It was great to watch the timing screens on the penultimate lap, seeing Gasly post personal bests in all three sectors to eventually steal the fastest lap from Sebastian Vettel," Brawn added.

“Prior to Gasly’s stop, you could also listen to other drivers discussing their options in the closing stages with their team on the pit wall, even though none of them took any extreme risks. This was a rule invented to please the fans and I think that today we saw that it really works.”

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • I have to admit that it's working better than I thought it would. it seemed kind of gimmicky at first, and still is going to key, but it has added just that little bit of extra excitement in the last part of the races.

    • + 0
    • Apr 17 2019 - 19:06
  • I never really thought it'd backfire. It'd either be good or neutral, and so far I think it's been going pretty well. I just wish it was more from the midfield that used it.

    • + 0
    • Apr 17 2019 - 20:47

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
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
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alpha Tauri
  • Points 417
  • Podiums 5
  • Grand Prix 151
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Feb 7 1996 (28)
  • Place of b. Rouen, FR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.77 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar