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The Fastest Lap of a race is a term which describes the quickest lap time set during a race (excluding practice and qualifying sessions). It is distinct from the Lap Record which describes the fastest lap time ever set on a particular circuit (though the two occasionally coincide).

The fastest lap of a race is usually set near to the end of the race, when fuel levels are lowest and the overall car weight is at its minimum. However, this was not always the case. Prior to 2009, when mid-race refuelling was allowed, the car's weight varied throughout the race. As a result, the fastest lap was often set midway through a race.

Between 1950 and 1959, a bonus World Championship point was awarded to the holder of the fastest lap for each race. Due to limitations in timing precision at the time, this was occasionally shared. In fact, at the 1954 British Grand Prix, seven drivers shared the bonus point for fastest lap. This award returned for the 2019 season, with top-ten finishing drivers eligible.

The fastest lap is also one part of the Hat-trick and Grand Chelem.

Records[]

Total fastest laps[]

Driver Fastest Laps Race starts Percentage
1 Germany Michael Schumacher 77 306 25.16%
2 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 65 335 19.4%
3 Finland Kimi Räikkönen 46 349 13.18%
4 France Alain Prost 41 199 20.60%
5 Germany Sebastian Vettel 38 299 12.71%
6 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 30 187 16.04%
7 Netherlands Max Verstappen 31 187 16.58%
8 United Kingdom Jim Clark 28 72 38.88%
9 Finland Mika Häkkinen 25 161 15.52%
10 Austria Niki Lauda 24 171 14.03%
Source:[1]

Most fastest laps in a season[]

Driver Season Entries Fastest Laps Percentage WDC
1 Germany Michael Schumacher 2004 18 10 55.55% 1st
Finland Kimi Räikkönen 2008 18 10 55.55% 3rd
Finland Kimi Räikkönen 2005 19 10 52.63% 2nd
4 Finland Mika Häkkinen 2000 17 9 52.94% 2nd
Netherlands Max Verstappen 2021 22 6 40.91% 1st
6 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 1992 16 8 50.00% 1st
Germany Michael Schumacher 1994 16 8 50.00% 1st
Germany Michael Schumacher 1995 17 8 47.05% 1st
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2015 19 8 42.11% 1st
10 Brazil Nelson Piquet 1986 16 7 43.75% 3rd
France Alain Prost 1988 16 7 43.75% 2nd
Germany Michael Schumacher 2002 17 7 41.18% 1st
Germany Michael Schumacher 2006 18 7 38.89% 2nd
Australia Mark Webber 2011 19 7 36.84% 3rd
Germany Sebastian Vettel 2013 19 7 36.84% 1st
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2014 19 7 36.84% 1st
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2017 20 7 35.00% 1st
Finland Valtteri Bottas 2018 21 7 33.33% 5th
Source:[2]

Highest percentage of fastest laps in a season[]

Driver FLs Races Season Percentage
1 Italy Alberto Ascari 6 8 1952 75.00%
2 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 5 8 1951 62.50%
3 United Kingdom Jim Clark 6 10 1963 60.00%
United Kingdom Jim Clark 6 10 1965 60.00%
5 United Kingdom Jim Clark 5 9 1962 55.55%
Germany Michael Schumacher 10 18 2004 55.55%
Finland Kimi Räikkönen 10 18 2008 55.55%
8 Finland Mika Häkkinen 9 17 2000 52.94%
9 Finland Kimi Räikkönen 10 19 2005 52.63%
10 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 4 8 1956 50.00%
United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 8 16 1992 50.00%
Germany Michael Schumacher 8 16 1994 50.00%

Most consecutive fastest laps[]

Driver FLs Season(s) Races
1 Italy Alberto Ascari 7 19521953 1952 Belgian Grand Prix1953 Argentine Grand Prix
2 Finland Kimi Räikkönen 6 2008 2008 Spanish Grand Prix2008 British Grand Prix
3 Germany Michael Schumacher 5 2004 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix2004 European Grand Prix
4 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 4 1969 1969 Monaco Grand Prix1969 British Grand Prix
Canada Gilles Villeneuve 4 1979 1979 South African Grand Prix1979 Belgian Grand Prix
United Kingdom Nigel Mansell 4 1991 1991 Canadian Grand Prix1991 British Grand Prix
Finland Kimi Räikkönen 4 2005 2005 French Grand Prix2005 Hungarian Grand Prix
Source:[3]

Youngest drivers to set fastest lap[]

Driver Age Race
1 Netherlands Max Verstappen 19 years, 44 days 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix
2 United Kingdom Lando Norris 20 years, 235 days 2020 Austrian Grand Prix
3 Germany Nico Rosberg 20 years, 258 days 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
4 Monaco Charles Leclerc 21 years, 166 days 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix
5 Mexico Esteban Gutiérrez 21 years, 280 days 2013 Spanish Grand Prix
6 Spain Fernando Alonso 21 years, 321 days 2003 Canadian Grand Prix
7 New Zealand Bruce McLaren 21 years, 322 days 1959 British Grand Prix
8 Germany Sebastian Vettel 21 years, 353 days 2009 British Grand Prix
9 Russia Daniil Kvyat 22 years, 19 days 2016 Spanish Grand Prix
10 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 22 years, 91 days 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix
Source:[4]
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