What if we now awarded a point for pole position?

On October 19, while the paddock of the F1 had established itself in Austin for the United States Grand Prix, the FIA ​​announced several measures adopted by the World Council, including the removal of the point rewarding the author of the best lap in the race from 2025. A measure rather popular within the paddock, the drivers considering that this rule reintroduced in 2019 in order to add some spice to the ends of races had not necessarily achieved its objective.

"I always thought it was not a necessary point in the current F1 system, mainly because of the way it is obtained., has indeed confided Carlos Sainz. Today, that point goes to whoever manages to get a free stop, not to whoever was the fastest during the race, even though he deserves it. It depends on luck or the race situation that allows you to get a free stop." 

Norris was not against the fastest lap point

Opinions shared in particular by Esteban Ocon et Kevin Magnussen, also called upon to give their opinion on the matter. “As a midfield team, it’s not really on our minds, the Dane immediately clarified. Even when you're 6th or 7th, it almost never happens that you can stop for free to try to get it. So it's not really an issue on our side..." 

Directly impacted by the loss of the fastest lap in the race a few weeks earlier in Singapore, in unethical circumstances (Daniel Ricciardo, who had nothing left to play for, entered the pits to put on new tires with two laps to go to take the point from Lando and protect Max Verstappen, with whom he shared the same employer), Lando Norris does not support the decision however. "I rather like the way it is todayi, he assured. It offers opportunities. You can pay a high price for taking a risk, if the pit stop doesn't go well for example. Then, if what happened in Singapore happens, it might be a good thing to do to remove it, but I don't think it was changed in response to Singapore."

If the 2025 campaign will therefore be reduced by twenty-four points compared to 2024, some would not be against the introduction of a new rule, which would give the symbolic aim of pole position a real accounting objective. "I would agree that a point should be given to the person who achieves pole position., confirmed Carlos Sainz, who is still full of ideas. Qualifying is very important for people, the media and us drivers. We all want to be the fastest, to do the perfect lap, to take risks to go for that pole. A point for that, in a bunched field, would make sense." "Why not, yes," Esteban Ocon followed suit. "That would make more sense than for racing, in fact." To those who have ears to hear...

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