Ought to F1 drop the purpose for the quickest lap? Our writers debate

Daniel Ricciardo setting the quickest lap within the Singapore GP reopened the talk in regards to the rule that awards one further level to the driving force who units it.

The Australian’s late change to mushy tyres allowed him to steal the quickest lap from dominant race winner Lando Norris, who was set to get the bonus level earlier than the ultimate lap. 

The transfer reignited the controversy a couple of rule that would show very important because the McLaren driver tries to maintain lowering the hole to Max Verstappen within the standings.

So ought to the additional level keep in F1 or is it an pointless complication? Our writers debate. 

The purpose rule ought to keep, however be tweaked – Jonathan Noble

When a world championship combat turns into as shut because it appears to be like to be this yr, it’s inevitable that the scrap for each single level will grow to be extra intense.

That’s the reason RB’s resolution to let Daniel Ricciardo gun for quickest lap in what appears to be like prone to have been his ultimate F1 race in Singapore proved so controversial – as a result of it meant that Lando Norris was robbed of what might be a important factors bonus.

It’s a situation that has inevitably reignited the doom-mongers’ fears of a world title being determined by some fastest-lap shenanigans in Abu Dhabi, and renewed requires the additional level on provide to be scrapped.

However, whereas there’s admittedly a threat of a controversial end to the season if spoiler techniques get rolled out, that isn’t a adequate motive to eliminate a side of F1 that has labored fairly effectively because it was re-introduced in 2019.

In truth, speaking solely in regards to the quickest lap spoiling a title decider is a glass-half-empty perspective.

The potential for a spoiler quickest lap tactic to affect the world championship is definitely no larger and no extra controversial than a crew letting one other driver acquire an additional level by observe place, and even being intentionally retired to assist a team-mate who’s working eleventh transfer up a spot and get the additional level wanted anyway.

Plus, the mathematical actuality is that having that single further level obtainable, it might be what makes the distinction between having a title finale or not.

Lando Norris might be 26 factors adrift of Max Verstappen leaving the Qatar Grand Prix this yr and nonetheless arrange the prospect of an thrilling thriller in Abu Dhabi.

If that bonus level did not exist, then the title battle can be performed earlier anyway – which certainly just isn’t a greater consequence for F1.

The quickest lap bonus has added an additional dynamic to races and, whereas actually not good in providing up alternatives for drivers who’re lucky to have large gaps behind them in races, it does present some added intrigue on the finish of races in figuring out who desires to threat going for it or not.

And there are even occasions when, as Norris did in Zandvoort, the driving force takes it upon themselves to go for it even when the crew doesn’t need them to.

Saying all that, I do suppose that F1 ought to doubtlessly think about a rule change that if anybody outdoors the highest ten finishers weapons for the quickest lap, the precise level nonetheless goes to the driving force inside the prime ten who has the quickest lap among the many factors scorers.

That may cease as soon as and for all any video games outdoors the highest ten the place there actually is not any draw back to bolting on some mushy tyres proper on the finish.

We have no idea proper now if the future of the 2024 crown will depend upon a quickest lap or not, however as McLaren crew boss Andrea Stella fairly rightly mentioned: “I feel we simply should work more durable to ensure that this does not come down to a degree…”

The rule must be dropped – Oleg Karpov

No matter the true motive behind the RB crew permitting Daniel Ricciardo to set the quickest lap of the Singapore GP, it solely highlights the necessity for F1 to rethink certainly one of its most illogical guidelines.

Even when it wasn’t Christian Horner texting Laurent Mekies within the closing phases of the race, begging the Purple Bull sister crew boss to nick the quickest lap from Lando Norris, it is merely unacceptable for F1 to nonetheless have this rule. At the very least not with the present formulation and these Pirelli tyres.

It in all probability made much more sense within the days of the tyre conflict, when Michelin and Bridgestone tyres had been so sturdy that they not solely lasted the total race distance however had been adequate for drivers to push from begin to end. However now?

Daniel Ricciardo, RB F1 Crew VCARB 01

Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photographs

Here is the horrifying situation. What if Norris does certainly handle to shut the hole to Max Verstappen and preserve his championship hopes alive – after which leads the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

What if he units the quickest lap, however would not have the luxurious of a free pitstop to placed on new softs to ensure it? And what if Purple Bull merely pits Sergio Perez to steal that quickest lap – and that is sufficient to tip the championship battle in Verstappen’s favour? And what if all of it occurs within the ultimate lap of the grand prix?

And that is not even the craziest situation. What if it isn’t even Perez, however Zhou Guanyu? What if Sauber determined to let him rejoice the top of his three-year profession by setting the quickest lap in his ultimate F1 race? Should you suppose Abu Dhabi 2021 was a catastrophe for F1, suppose once more.

After all, the probability of this taking place could be very low (or is it?), however nonetheless, there’s simply no motive for this rule to exist, just because it is so random. Fairly often it rewards somebody with some extent who has simply had a horrible weekend in a very good automobile. What number of occasions have we seen a crew pit a driver who’s simply obtained a sufficiently big hole to the automobile behind – simply to get that time?

As a rule, it is the driving force from one of many prime groups who find yourself having a horrible weekend, dropping any probability of competing with the remainder of the highest group – however his automobile is quick sufficient to make up a adequate hole to the midfield. Why does F1 reward such performances?

It may be good. Typically it provides intrigue. And Norris’ quickest lap at Zandvoort was one thing particular – I completely get that. However once more, when the best method to get the quickest lap is to pit for a set of softs proper on the finish of the race, it simply would not make sense.

Would not it’s extra logical to reward the quickest lap, which is the one that actually counts? What about giving some extent for pole place – if it is a straight combat about who’s the quickest man on the market, with out all these further components? For me, that will be much more logical than what F1 has now…