What happened to the F1 fastest lap? Why extra point has been removed for 2025 season

Each year, Formula 1 officials make tweaks to improve the safety, fairness and overall enjoyment of its racing.

A few changes have been made for the 2025 season, including the removal of a certain points-scoring method. 

What happened to the F1 fastest lap?

Drivers will no longer be able to bag an extra point for setting the fastest lap of a race. 

Introduced in 2019, drivers received a point for going quickest around a circuit – as long as they finished in the top 10. 

MORE: F1 2025 standings | F1 2025 schedule

However, this has been scrapped for the new campaign.

There were instances where drivers outside the top 10 positions would strategically pit late, put on soft tires, and attempt to snatch the extra point away from a rival, even if they were ineligible for the point themselves.

This notably occurred at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo (who, at the time, drove for Red Bull’s sister team RB) pitted late to ‘steal’ the fastest lap point away from McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was in a championship battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

While this hasn’t been announced as the official reason behind the change, it is likely a key motive.

The remainder of the points-scoring system is unchanged for 2025.

F1 2025 race calendar 

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