Did F1’s Fastest Lap Point Rule Really Affect Strategy? Here’s What I Found

So, F1 recently got rid of the fastest lap point, claiming it was all about strategy, not pure pace. They said drivers outside the top 10 were "stealing" the point, with some even affecting the championship. But is that really true? I decided to dive into the stats and find out if the rule actually made a difference.
For context, the fastest lap point was introduced in the 2019 season till the 2024 season. When I say before 2019, I mean from 2011 to 2018.

Here's what I found –

Before 2019: The fastest laps were mostly set in the middle of the race. Only about 3% of races (6 races) saw a driver in the top 10 pit late and grab the fastest lap. The average laps remaining when the fastest lap was set? 17.22.

After 2019: Things changed. Fastest laps were set much closer to the end of the race, and it wasn’t just about pace anymore. 23% of races (27 races) saw top 10 drivers pit late for that point. The mean laps remaining when the fastest lap was set dropped to 5.94.

Here's a slide showing all the instances of drivers outside the top 10 pitting towards the end and setting the fastest lap –

Comparison of instances where drivers outside the top 10 secured the fastest lap, before and after the introduction of the fastest lap point in 2019.

So, what else did F1 management expect? In close championship battles, teams would always take every advantage they could, whether that meant pitting late for the fastest lap or making strategic moves to “steal” the point. It was clear that the rule wasn’t just about pure pace, and in many cases, it became a tactical tool for those outside the top 10.

F1 scrapping the rule makes sense, but only time will tell if, from this year onward, teams return to the pre-2019 pattern where the fastest lap becomes more of an honorary achievement rather than a strategic goal.

What do you think? Did this rule give too much power to drivers outside the top 10?