The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has confirmed a big change to the points-scoring system ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign. A meeting of the World Sports Council (WMSC) took place on Thursday, 17th October made some regulatory changes for the upcoming season and also removed the points-scoring chance for the drivers present on the grid.
Fastest lap point to be discontinued from the 2025 season
Earlier this month, a meeting of the F1 Commission took place at the VCARB factory in Faenza, and on Thursday, WMSC met to agree upon the rule changes laid out by the commission.
For the upcoming season of Formula 1, a surprise change has been made that takes away the chance for a driver to add more points to his tally. The point awarded for setting the fastest lap of the race has been removed from the 2025 F1 season.
This rule came into existence in 2019 and granted the driver whoever sets the fastest lap of the race an extra point but it had a twist. The driver should have finished in the top ten to avail this point and if the driver finishes above tenth, then no points were awarded for that very race.
It gave a chance to the drivers who had major gaps behind them to pit for fresh tyres and go for this extra point. It also was used in a tactical way, allowing drivers to help teammates with their points tally by pitting and taking the point away from the rival.
The other F1 regulations that have been changed for the 2025 F1 season
From the 2025 F1 season, there is an increase in the requirement of the teams to run junior drivers and it will be doubled.
In the ongoing 2024 F1 season, each team can field a junior driver on two different occasions. Both of the regular race drivers have to sit out for a session each as they hand their car over to the junior driver (someone who has two or fewer Grand Prix to their name).
But in the 2025 F1 season, both the regular race drivers will now sit for two sessions each, bringing the requirement to four.
