Fastest lap
In motorsports, the fastest lap is the quickest lap run during a race. In some racing series, like NASCAR, the fastest lap awards championship points for a driver or team. In Formula One and MotoGP no point is awarded for the fastest lap.
Formula One
[edit | edit source]In Formula One, 141 different drivers have made fastest race laps. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the highest number of fastest laps with 77, followed by Lewis Hamilton with 68. Since 2007, the DHL Fastest Lap Award is given to the driver with the most fastest laps in a season.[1]
Between 1950-1959 and 2019-2024, an extra point was given to the driver who recorded the fastest lap during a race.[2] Between 2019 and 2024, the point could only be awarded if the driver achieving the fastest lap finished the race in 10th position or better.[3] The point has been discontinued for the 2025 season.[4]
Fastest laps are often set during the final laps of a race. Lap times often decrease as tracks get "rubbered in" and fuel weights go down as a race progresses.
Top ten drivers in Formula One history with the most fastest laps
[edit | edit source]| Bold | Driver has competed in the 2025 season |
| Driver | Fastest laps | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany Michael Schumacher | 77 |
| 2 | United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton | 68 |
| 3 | Finland Kimi Räikkönen | 46 |
| 4 | France Alain Prost | 41 |
| 5 | Germany Sebastian Vettel | 38 |
| 6 | Netherlands Max Verstappen | 36 |
| 7 | United Kingdom Nigel Mansell | 30 |
| 8 | United Kingdom Jim Clark | 28 |
| 9 | Spain Fernando Alonso | 26 |
| 10 | Finland Mika Häkkinen | 25 |
| Source:[5] | ||
Formula One performance hybrid racecar
[edit | edit source]In recent studies the LeMans endurance project has been reconfiguring Formula One racecars and making them faster by reconfiguring powertrain configurations. These powertrain reconfigurations have drastically been able to cut the time of the fastest lap achievable by Formula One racecars. This team also studied the capabilities of Formula One racecars and studied how to improve the performance of the cars. Ultimately they designed a powertrain configuration that cut the fastest lap time achievable by a standard Formula One racecar by over 20 seconds.[6]
Formula One aerodynamics studies
[edit | edit source]A researcher at Durham University studied the aerodynamic effects on Formula One racecars and how to make them more efficient and ultimately faster. A Formula One racecar's lap time advantage is the result of the cornering performance of the vehicle. If the tyres can have more grip there would be more friction and less slippage which would allow the car to go faster through corners, and subsequently decrease the time it takes to complete a lap. Also if the powertrain had more power and if the car experienced less drag then it could achieve a faster lap time.[7]
NASCAR
[edit | edit source]In NASCAR, drivers in all three premier series (Cup, Xfinity and Truck) will have a chance to earn the Xfinity Fastest Lap Award. The award is given to the driver with the fastest lap in a race.[8]
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
[edit | edit source]In Grand Prix motorcycle racing, which includes the 80cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes, Giacomo Agostini holds the record for the most fastest laps with 117, Valentino Rossi is second with 96 fastest laps and Marc Márquez is third with 88.
Top ten riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing with the most fastest laps
[edit | edit source]| Bold | Rider still competing in Grand Prix motorcycle racing as of the 2025 season |
| Rider | Fastest laps | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy Giacomo Agostini | 117 |
| 2 | Italy Valentino Rossi | 96 |
| 3 | Spain Marc Márquez | 88 |
| 4 | Spain Ángel Nieto | 81 |
| 5 | United Kingdom Mike Hailwood | 79 |
| 6 | Spain Dani Pedrosa | 64 |
| 7 | Australia Mick Doohan | 46 |
| 8 | Italy Max Biaggi | 42 |
| 9 | Spain Jorge Lorenzo | 37 |
| 10 | United Kingdom Phil Read | 36 |
| Source:[9] | ||
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Autocross
[edit | edit source]Autocross is a competition normally conducted by a single vehicle and driver on an open paved surface where the driver races against the clock while trying to achieve the fastest lap possible. In autocross drivers can learn how to achieve a faster lap through studying data of their vehicles.[10] This data can be collected by many various systems and analyzed to produce faster more aerodynamic vehicles.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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