AUSTIN — Throughout Thursday’s media day forward of the USA Grand Prix, one of many greatest items of reports centered on the choice by System 1’s governing physique, the FIA, to take away the bonus level awarded every race for the quickest lap. Instituted 5 seasons in the past, that time could be awarded to the motive force who completed within the high ten, and in addition posted the quickest lap.
On the Singapore Grand Prix, Lando Norris drove away from the sector and had the quickest lap in his fingers, however within the closing phases Daniel Ricciardo — in what could be his last race of the season — was known as into the pits for a set of soppy tires. Regardless of working in the back of the pack all race Ricciardo snatched the quickest lap from Norris, and whereas he didn’t decide up some extent as a result of he completed exterior the factors, he denied the McLaren driver that bonus level within the course of.
And, if the title race between Norris and Max Verstappen really comes right down to the wire, that time may very well be a game-changer.
Nevertheless, that bonus level will not be a characteristic, and it was information that appeared well-received all through the paddock.
“I at all times thought the purpose for quickest lap was a bit pointless as a result of, it will at all times be the motive force who was having a tricky race within the high ten would pit, put new tires on and acquire the additional level,” stated George Russell to the media, together with SB Nation on Thursday. “So I by no means actually noticed the good thing about that. So kind of glad to see that that’s gone.”
Russell was not alone in his evaluation.
“I don’t suppose that’s a foul factor,” stated Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc throughout his media session. “Truthfully, I’ve at all times felt like this level was very superficial as a result of it at all times depended in your race state of affairs, and it wasn’t actually rewarding a specific ability in a manner. As a result of it was extra about discovering your self within the fortunate place the place you may pit cease and do this quickest lap. So I feel it’s it’s good that it’s been taken off.”
“I feel it takes away from any form of video games that may be performed,” stated Oscar Piastri throughout his media session. “I’m not saying that video games have been performed up to now nevertheless it simply removes any doubt of it. Numerous the time we form of noticed that if there’s a dominant automobile, then that automobile simply goes and will get an additional level for quickest lap as properly.
“So it doesn’t at all times carry some form of profit to the opposite automobiles. So for me, I feel it’s completely positive to do away with that once more.”
The choice to take away the bonus level was additionally a subject of debate in the course of the FIA Press Convention, with Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. becoming a member of his fellow drivers in welcoming the choice.
“I at all times was of the opinion that it was a not-needed level within the factors system of System 1, primarily due to how it’s achieved. Proper now, that time goes to the one which has a free pit cease one lap to the top of the race,” stated Sainz. “So it’s not displaying who’s the quickest man within the race, and he deserves one level for being the quickest man. It’s some extent that goes to the man that by probability or by luck or by race state of affairs has a free pit cease during the race. It’s not at all times the case. Not at all times, however in plenty of events, many of the occasions.”
Sainz, together with Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, floated the concept of a bonus level going to the motive force who qualifies in P1, as aiming for pole place is actually one thing drivers hope to realize, reasonably than the quickest single lap over a two-hour race.
“Pole place is one thing that, a minimum of in System 1, is given plenty of worth. Qualifying is one thing that media individuals maintain plenty of significance to know. And clearly as drivers in qualifying, we like being the quickest as a result of it reveals you’ve possibly have performed the cleanest lap. You’ve taken possibly extra dangers,” stated Sainz. “You’ve put the whole lot on the road to go on pole. And some extent for that in a decent discipline is smart. In a discipline the place just one automobile goes to get all of the pole positions makes much less sense. However within the supreme state of affairs of a decent discipline and one man going for it in qualifying and getting that pole place, I feel it might make extra sense than the quickest lap of the race.”
“I feel for us drivers, being on pole is one thing crucial to us and I feel to all of you guys. it’s one thing that we put plenty of effort on and that’s very rewarding,” stated Ocon. “On the race, we race to win. You don’t essentially race to be quickest on one lap. I by no means thought that it is a good factor, to have one level, for the race. However for pole place, it will be rather more rewarding and that’s one thing I would like.”
As for the motive force who might, a minimum of theoretically, be impacted by this rule in 2024, Norris took a reasonably diplomatic method when requested concerning the rule change throughout his FIA Press Convention look.
“I form of favored how it’s now. I imply, you already know, there’s a possibility to go for one thing else. Generally you pay the worth for risking such a factor, and it’s at all times been a danger in sure eventualities. in case your pit cease goes fallacious, you already know, completely different causes. The factor is, if it’s such a case, then it’s like we had in Singapore or one thing like that. that’s repetitive, then I feel it’s the right factor to do,” stated Norris. “However I don’t know. I don’t really feel like they need to change it simply due to individuals questioning it after Singapore. So I don’t know. It’s acquired nothing to do with me. It was all a workforce supervisor factor.
“So yeah, it’s acquired nothing to do with us.”