Only since 2019 have the fastest race laps been counted again: missing an extra point was a title killer five times

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Anyone who becomes world champion for the third time with a lead of 290 points does not have to worry about an old Formula 1 rule that was reintroduced in 2019 – after 60 years. World Champion Max Verstappen: “This extra point for the fastest race lap is especially nice if you can take it away from the toughest opponent with a late pit stop.”

The extra point as a quick party game, as revenge – but also as a title decision? It’s amazing: the world champion is said to have had a different name five times since the extra point ended in 1959! The five unlucky ones: Niki Lauda, ​​​​Gilles Villeneuve, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Felipe Massa.

In the pouring rain of Fuji, James Hunt (McLaren) won the epic ‘Rush’ duel against Niki Lauda (Ferrari). Since the Viennese gave up, he lost the title 68:69. If there had been an extra point then, Niki would have won the title with 72:71. Because he was ahead 4-2 in the round robin match.

Gilles Villeneuve is still one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers among fans. If the Canadian had had the extra point in the Ferrari match against Jody Scheckter, he would have been world champion with 53:51. But his 6-0 victory in the fastest laps was to no avail. The South African became champion with 51:47.

The Frenchman Prost was one of the happiest world champions that year with the McLaren. He defeated Nigel Mansell (Williams) 72:70. But the Brit would have overtaken Prost, known as ‘Professor’, with more fastest laps (4:2). At 74:74 the number of victories would have been decisive – Mansell was 5:4 ahead.

Formula 1 has hardly seen a warmer duel in 75 years. The two hated each other and only made peace after Ratzenberger’s death in Imola in 1994. The next day Senna was also dead. In 1988 the Brazilian defeated Prost 90:87 in the McLaren super battle. Senna saved the missed extra point, otherwise Prost would have won 94:93.

The Brazilian continues to fight for the title for the FIA ​​as he wants to remove Singapore from the rankings. The Ferrari man stumbled over Hamilton (McLaren) in 2008 with 97:98 as the Briton finished fifth in the final meters in Sao Paulo! If the fastest laps had counted, Hamilton would have had to wait until 2014 for his first title.

Source : Blick