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.
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 |  Michael Schumacher
|
77 | 306 | 25.16% |
| 2 |  Kimi Räikkönen
|
46 |
349 |
13.18% |
| 3 |  Alain Prost
|
41 | 199 | 20.60% |
| 4 |  Lewis Hamilton
|
65 |
335 |
19.4% |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel
|
38 |
299 |
12.71% |
| 6 | Nigel Mansell
|
30 | 187 | 16.04% |
| 7 | Jim Clark
|
28 | 72 | 38.88% |
| 8 | Mika Häkkinen
|
25 | 161 | 15.52% |
| 9 |  Niki Lauda
|
24 | 171 | 14.03% |
| 10 |  Juan Manuel Fangio
|
23 | 51 | 45.09% |
 Nelson Piquet
|
23 | 204 | 11.27% | |
 Fernando Alonso
|
24 |
379 |
6.33% |
Most fastest laps in a season
| Driver | Season | Entries | Fastest Laps | Percentage | WDC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher
|
2004 | 18 | 10 | 55.55% | 1st |
| Kimi Räikkönen
|
2008 | 18 | 10 | 55.55% | 3rd | |
| Kimi Räikkönen
|
2005 | 19 | 10 | 52.63% | 2nd | |
| 4 | Mika Häkkinen
|
2000 | 17 | 9 | 52.94% | 2nd |
| 5 | Nigel Mansell
|
1992 | 16 | 8 | 50.00% | 1st |
| Michael Schumacher
|
1994 | 16 | 8 | 50.00% | 1st | |
| Michael Schumacher
|
1995 | 17 | 8 | 47.05% | 1st | |
| 8 | Nelson Piquet
|
1986 | 16 | 7 | 43.75% | 3rd |
| Alain Prost
|
1988 | 16 | 7 | 43.75% | 2nd | |
| Michael Schumacher
|
2002 | 17 | 7 | 41.17% | 1st | |
 Mark Webber
|
2011 | 19 | 7 | 36.84% | 3rd |
Highest percentage of fastest laps in a season
| Driver | FLs | Races | Season | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alberto Ascari
|
6 | 8 | 1952 | 75.00% |
| 2 | Juan Manuel Fangio
|
5 | 8 | 1951 | 62.50% |
| 3 | Jim Clark
|
6 | 10 | 1963 | 60.00% |
| Jim Clark
|
6 | 10 | 1965 | 60.00% | |
| 5 | Jim Clark
|
5 | 9 | 1962 | 55.55% |
| Michael Schumacher
|
10 | 18 | 2004 | 55.55% | |
| Kimi Räikkönen
|
10 | 18 | 2008 | 55.55% | |
| 8 | Mika Häkkinen
|
9 | 17 | 2000 | 52.94% |
| 9 | Kimi Räikkönen
|
10 | 19 | 2005 | 52.63% |
| 10 | Juan Manuel Fangio
|
4 | 8 | 1956 | 50.00% |
| Nigel Mansell
|
8 | 16 | 1992 | 50.00% | |
| Michael Schumacher
|
8 | 16 | 1994 | 50.00% |
Most consecutive fastest laps
Youngest drivers to set fastest lap
(only the first fastest lap for each driver is listed)
| Driver | Age | Race | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Max Verstappen
|
19 years, 44 days | 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| 2 | Nico Rosberg
|
20 years, 258 days | 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix |
| 3 |  Esteban Gutiérrez
|
21 years, 280 days | 2013 Spanish Grand Prix |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso
|
21 years, 321 days | 2003 Canadian Grand Prix |
| 5 |  Bruce McLaren
|
21 years, 322 days | 1959 British Grand Prix |
| 6 | Sebastian Vettel
|
21 years, 353 days | 2009 British Grand Prix |
| 7 |  Daniil Kvyat
|
22 years, 19 days | 2016 Spanish Grand Prix |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton
|
22 years, 91 days | 2007 Malaysian Grand Prix |
| 9 | Sergio Pérez
|
22 years, 122 days | 2012 Monaco Grand Prix |
| 10 | Kimi Räikkönen
|
22 years, 137 days | 2002 Australian Grand Prix |
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