FIA: how sporting regulations could distort 2024 Formula 1 title fight. F1, FIA: A Point System in Need of Change.

The FIA is looking ahead to the final six races of the F1 season with great interest, convinced that they will bring intense emotions due to the competitiveness of the top teams. While McLaren seems to be pulling away in the Constructors’ Championship, the Drivers’ Championship is much more contested than Verstappen’s lead over Norris might suggest. The strong performance by the British driver in Singapore serves as a clear warning to his Dutch rival. From now on, simply damage-limiting may not be enough for Max; he needs to rediscover his competitiveness to secure his fourth world title.

As the team awaits the final update package of the season, set to debut at the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, the reigning world champions are scraping the barrel. Daniel Ricciardo’s fastest lap in the closing stages of the Marina Bay street circuit race raised eyebrows in the Woking team. The Australian’s final flourish before his permanent exit from F1 cost Norris the extra point awarded to the fastest lap setter (if they finish in the top ten, editor’s note).

After years of dominance by a single competitor, the close contest between two drivers has reignited doubts about awarding an additional point for the fastest lap in an F1 race. This “bonus” has seemed somewhat meaningless from the start, as it is often set in the final stages of a race using fresher, more performant tires compared to those following a conventional race strategy. Lately, “hat tricks” have become rare, as the fastest lap is seldom set by the driver who dominated the weekend.

F1, FIA: A Truly Meritocratic Point System?

With 180 points still up for grabs in the remainder of the season, including six for fastest laps, quick calculations show that these could still have a significant impact. It is also worth noting that no additional point is awarded for the fastest lap during Sprint Races. This has led to concerns within F1 and the FIA that these points might influence the season’s outcome, with teams resorting to borderline tactics to deny competitors this bonus.

In such a context, attention is especially focused on Sergio Perez and Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bull. We’re talking about a total of three drivers who could be “sacrificed” for the greater good, especially if they find themselves outside the top ten. A scenario could also arise where a driver fighting for the title makes an extra pit stop, leveraging a solid lead, just to secure the valuable extra point, despite the inherent risks of a pit stop.

F1, FIA: A Point System in Need of Change

The current point allocation system has come under scrutiny just as Formula 1 has achieved its primary goal: performance convergence. This has allowed various teams to compete for victories this year, making races more exciting and undoubtedly making the current championship more competitive. Something that hasn’t happened for a while and that F1 desperately needed. One of the key values of any sport is meritocracy.

Therefore, it must be emphasized that the extra point for the fastest lap is too often earned in an artificial manner. If the aim is to reward performance and driver skill, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to award it to the driver who secures pole position? On certain tracks, like Monaco or Singapore, qualifying is half the battle. In a session where all drivers compete under equal conditions (tires, fuel load, etc.), this would be a fairer reflection of merit.

This is an option that the FIA, with the support of drivers and teams, should consider. The reasoning here is simple and justifies the means, as they say: avoiding questionable race dynamics and, in turn, rewarding those who have delivered a truly noteworthy performance, not one influenced by favorable circumstances. It’s unlikely any changes will be made during the current championship, but there is hope that the Drivers’ Championship won’t be decided by these additional points.