F1 2025 – The brand new yr brings only a few regulatory adjustments. From a strictly technical perspective, nothing will change earlier than opening the door to probably the most important transformation in F1 historical past, which is able to unfold beginning in 2026. Nevertheless, some minor updates are famous in sporting issues, together with the abolition of the extra level for the quickest lap throughout the race.
A number of months in the past, the FIA confirmed the abolition of the controversial bonus by means of an announcement. The Singapore GP marked a pivotal second on this resolution, as Daniel Ricciardo, who was not within the factors zone, set the quickest lap, successfully benefiting Max Verstappen, the Crimson Bull driver for the Visa Money App RB staff.
“The World Council authorised some minor amendments to the sporting and technical rules for 2024 and 2025, together with the removing of the purpose awarded for the quickest lap.” This assertion concluded a contentious chapter that by no means totally satisfied everybody.
The quickest lap level: the way it labored and when it was launched
The quickest lap level in races is just not new. It existed throughout the early days of the collection and was in place for ten seasons, from 1950 to 1959. It was then eliminated till it was reinstated in 2019, persevering with till the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP.
The rule stipulated that the additional level would solely be awarded if achieved by a driver ending within the factors. This observe altered race methods and sparked controversies. As an illustration, drivers with nothing to realize by way of standings would match contemporary tires within the closing laps to assert the purpose, denying it to rivals.
When this tactic was employed by a satellite tv for pc staff, akin to Visa Money App Racing Bulls, it created an simple battle of curiosity. The system risked changing into a unclean sport, accessible solely to these proudly owning a number of groups in System 1—specifically, Crimson Bull.
To keep away from such controversies, F1 decision-makers, for as soon as taking a resolute step, determined to revert to the pre-2019 system, rewarding solely the highest ten and freezing any proposal to increase advantages to positions past the highest ten.
This return to a typical and fewer convoluted mechanism will change race methods beginning within the season commencing in March. Drivers will now not cease within the closing laps, supplied they’ve a major hole to these behind, to suit new tires and declare the additional level.
F1 too lenient in pursuing transparency
System 1 seeks to be extra clear by eliminating a instrument that was undoubtedly exploited in a different way from the legislator’s intent, which aimed to additional enliven Grands Prix by providing a bonus. Nevertheless, groups prioritize revenue maximization over moral consistency. If a staff can influence one other for its profit, it is going to, as Crimson Bull demonstrated.
Maybe the game’s leaders, to realize even higher readability, mustn’t have solely abolished the quickest lap level but in addition imposed stricter rules on multi-ownership, which creates an anachronistic and more and more unjustifiable battle of curiosity. But, F1 appears unable to beat its contradictions, that are prone to persist within the coming years.
FOM waged an all-out battle towards Andretti, barring its entry regardless of fulfilling all FIA-imposed necessities. The eleventh staff materialized solely when Renault determined to discontinue its engine program in Viry-Châtillon. The choice-makers, in a real about-face, reversed their stance and welcomed the brand new entrant.
Maybe it might have sufficed to require Crimson Bull GmbH to promote its Faenza subsidiary, facilitating the entry of one other producer and ending a bonus felt not solely on the observe, as evidenced by the aforementioned episode, but in addition within the corridors of energy, the place having a further ally isn’t any small matter.
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