Brawn: Fastest lap bonus point rule working as intended

F1 managing director Ross Brawn believes that the new bonus point for the fastest lap has had a positive impact on races so far in 2019.

Brawn says the introduction of a bonus point for the fastest lap during a race has been a success story so far this season, acting as an effective 'lure' for teams to chase late-on.

Although the bonus point is only available to those who finish inside the top 10, Brawn insists that the three races in 2019 have all seen strategy based around earning the additional prize.

“The lure of an extra point, as long as it’s set by a driver who is in the top 10 at the flag, was driven by the desire to add a bit of spice to the final stages of a race, especially when the order seems more or less set," Brawn said after the Chinese Grand Prix.

“China worked out just that way. The top six positions more or less decided, but with Pierre Gasly a healthy amount of time clear of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, his Red Bull team decided to exploit the opportunity that gap gave for a free pit stop. They pitted the Frenchman for a set of soft tyres and sent him on his way for a crack at the fastest lap.

“It was great to watch the timing screens on the penultimate lap, seeing Gasly post personal bests in all three sectors to eventually steal the fastest lap from Sebastian Vettel.

“Prior to Gasly’s stop, you could also listen to other drivers discussing their options in the closing stages with their team on the pit wall, even though none of them took any extreme risks.

“This was a rule invented to please the fans and I think that today we saw that it really works!”