Formula 1 - Did the fastest lap points make any difference in 2021?

When I last looked at whether the fastest lap bonus points made any difference to anything from 2009 to 2020, the answer was a resounding no. 

Then we come to 2021 – the closest F1 season in years, decided by the forces of chaos made manifest. Surely, if having fastest lap bonus points was going to have an effect, this would be the year. 

The fastest lap points winners for each race can be found below:  

Seven different drivers, driving for four different teams, won points. 

How did this affect the Constructor's Championship?  

It had no effect. 

How about the Driver's Championship?  

*Although removing the fastest lap points results in Norris and Leclerc having the same number of points, Norris stays in 6th because of better highest place finished (3rd). 

So basically, it changes nothing in the Driver's Championship either. 

If the fastest lap points don’t make a difference in a year like this, which came down to the last race, they’re not going to make a difference most years. 

But, I thought, let’s go further. Formula 1 introduced the sprint race points this year, maybe the effect of those masked anything from fastest laps. 

The sprint race points were as follows:  

If we remove those too, does it have any effect on the Constructor's Championship?

   

No. 

How about the Driver's Championship?  

Also no. 

Neither of Formula 1’s most recent attempts at shaking things up have done a thing, either individually or together, to change the result. 

Maybe, just maybe, the problem is in the design of the cars that are too wide to allow any overtaking. 

I am hopefully, if not expectant, that this year’s aerodynamic regulation changes might lead to something of a shake-up. I don’t necessarily mind Mercedes (or Red Bull) winning everything, it’s the fact that I know no other teams stand a chance of even a race win unless those two teams crash that I mind.