Max Verstappen fears the additional point awarded for fastest lap is quickly becoming a consolation for the top three teams.
Reintroduced to try and add late spice to the race, it did just that in Australia when both Mercedes drivers and the Dutchman specifically attempted to achieve it.
In the past two races though, the driver in fifth or sixth place has simply pitted for soft tyres in the final laps and successfully achieved the extra point.
“The problem is that most of the time, the top three teams have one of their cars with an issue at one point or it’s just a bit slower and they can always then pit because the gap behind is so big,” Verstappen explained to RaceFans.
“It just makes the gap to the teams behind even bigger if you keep adding a point to the top teams."
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Aware of this fact, Mercedes has also instructed their drivers not to think about the fastest lap when a result seems set, fully knowing Red Bull and Ferrari may well make a tactical pit-stop.
“I don’t see the benefit of it because as soon as one of the top two is taking the point the guy in sixth is pitting to and that particular team is not getting the point," Max concluded.
