The FIA ​​has confirmed that a major change to the way drivers score points during a Grand Prix will change for the 2025 F1 season.

A meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Thursday outlined some regulatory changes for the upcoming season, including a surprise change for F1 2025 that removes a major points-scoring chance for drivers.

F1 fastest lap point removed for 2025 championship

Following a meeting of the F1 Commission at the VCARB factory in Faenza earlier this month, the WMSC met on Thursday to ratify the agreed rule changes which had been presented by the Commission.

A surprise change has been made for F1 2025, with the removal of a points-scoring opportunity for Grand Prix drivers – the point awarded for completing the fastest lap in a race has been removed from the F1 2025 regulations .

The rule was introduced in 2019 and awarded an extra point to the driver with the fastest lap of the Grand Prix, provided they finished in the top 10. If the driver with the fastest lap finished outside the top 10, no points would be awarded. awarded for that specific race.

This gave the opportunity for drivers with large gaps behind them to gamble on fresh tires towards the end of a race in order to attempt the feat, and could also lead to tactical use, such as a driver attempting to assist. a teammate with his point total by opposing to take the point away from a rival.

What other F1 regulations have been changed for F1 2025?

As well as removing the fastest lap point in F1, another change for next year will see an increase in the requirement for teams to have junior drivers – the requirement will be doubled.

In 2024, the requirement was that each team field a junior driver twice, with each of the two regular racing drivers having to sit out one session to hand over their car to a junior (defined as a driver with two or fewer d experience in Grands Prix).

In 2025, each regular racing driver will be required to sit out two sessions, bringing the total requirement for each team to field a junior driver four times throughout the season.

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What else is there to expect with the F1 regulations

As well as the more immediate rule changes for next season, the WMSC also explained how the regulations for F1 2026 and beyond will be presented, with a reorganization underway in the way the regulations are presented.

From 2026, the rules will be divided into “thematic sections”, with the new structure to be adopted over the coming months.

The 2026 technical regulations will become section C of the regulations and will see improvements to the aerodynamic regulations. This will result in higher performance ceilings for the cars, while maintaining management of wake turbulence behind the cars.

The Sporting Regulations will become Section B and will be completely simplified and modernized in their language. In addition, measures are underway to regulate the energy management of powertrains and the management of airmobiles.

The Financial Regulations will become Section D and will further refine the rules introduced in 2021 as more knowledge and experience is gleaned over the seasons. “Significant efforts” have been made to simplify them by defining exclusions and adjustments, while also strengthening the measures available to the FIA ​​to monitor their compliance.

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