Fastest lap point out, double rookie practice in for 2025

The FIA has made adjustments to the future proceedings of Formula 1, scrapping the point for fastest lap and increasing the amount of free practice time for young drivers in 2025.

Gathering on Thursday to discuss changes to the championships it oversees, the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council made some notable shifts to the way F1 will be conducted after the 2024 season. 

After its introduction to the grid in 2019, the additional point awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap of a Grand Prix will be removed from 2025 onwards.

The extra incentive for drivers finishing within the top ten also provided a strategic play for teams, allowing them to secure a slight advantage over their rivals in the championship fight by scoring a maximum of 26 points on Grand Prix Sundays.

Often, however, the extra point didn’t provide much of the expected excitement, instead being taken advantage of by drivers with a free pitstop to the car behind them and enabling them to make a risk-free tyre swap to collect the point.

The decision comes after Daniel Ricciardo’s valiant final push during his farewell race in Singapore stole the point off championship contender Lando Norris, a very welcomed achievement from the perspective of Max Verstappen and the Red Bull pit wall.

As for the increased number of required rookie runs, the WMSC has approved plans to double the amount of FP1 sessions reserved for young drivers.

Teams are currently instructed to give up one free practice session per car, however, from 2025 onwards they will be required to lend the opening Friday practice session to a rookie driver on two weekends per car. 

This decision comes after the FIA’s plans to host a rookie sprint race at the 2024 Abu Dhabi post-season test were called off, with F1 planning to revisit the possibility of hosting such an event in 2025 instead.

The FIA said it has also simplified the sporting and financial regulations for 2026, with further tweaks following in the coming months.

Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

2024 United States Grand Prix Schedule:

Saturday, October 19th:

FP1: 04:30 – 05:30

Sprint Qualifying: 08:30 – 09:14

Sunday, October 20th:

Sprint: 05:00 – 06:00

Grand Prix Qualifying: 09:00 – 10:00

Monday, October 21st:

Race: 06:00

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