Formula 1 - Did the fastest lap and sprint points make any difference in 2022?

Last year, I looked at whether the fastest lap points and sprint race points had any effect on the 2021 Championships. The answer was no, as it had been for the fastest lap points for the 10 years previous. I’m feeling decidedly justified in declaring them a gimmick. 

I would expect them to have had very little effect in 2022 either, not least because of the size of Red Bull’s victory margin.

The fastest lap points winners from 2022 can be found below.    

7 different drivers and 4 different constructors won fastest lap points which is in line with an average season. 

The final standings for the Constructors' Championships, with and without the fastest lap points. Removing the fastest lap points makes no change in the Constructors Title. 

How about in the Drivers's championship? Once again, the fastest lap points lead to no changes. 

That means if we put together the calculated total points if there had been fastest laps from 2009-2018, and the actual results in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, 0 constructors results out of 149 have been affected by fastest lap points. 

In the drivers’ championship, the number of results affected is 11/327 (3.36% of all results), and none of those are in the top 3 of any given year. 

Let’s look at the sprint races, maybe they had an effect, especially with the extra points available in 2022, after the damp squib the sprint races had been in 2021. 

The sprint race points were as follows: Because there were points available for more sprint race places in 2022, I've also made tables for which constructors and drivers got points.  

Do the sprint race points have an effect on either championship?  

* and ¶ = teams whose positions swapped.

   

*, ¶ and § = drivers whose positions swapped. 

Giving points to almost half the field 3 times a year changes the position of 6 of the drivers. Only 2 of those drivers are really at the pointy end of the championship. 

So, what have we learned 

• The 1 point for fastest lap is too small to affect anything. I think that’s also why the top teams don’t really go for extra pitstops just to get it. 

• The increase in points for the sprint races in 2022 meant they did affect things. 

• But probably not enough to justify the extra time and effort 

• Plus it’s not like they actually produce more racing, either during the sprint or the main race 

• Help, I am agreeing with Christian Horner about something.