Fastest lap

The fastest lap of the race is known in motorsport, the fastest lap time during a race.

Achieving the fastest lap of the race rarely had material significance for the drivers and teams in the history of motorsport. So was assigned in Formula 1 in the period between 1950 and 1960 an additional point for the fastest lap. Also in the Motorcycle World Championship achieving the fastest lap time in the race in 1949 was rewarded with a point.

Is determined is the fastest race lap, since there is a time measurement in motor sport racing events. It is independent of the prevailing points system, as well as achieving the best starting place ( pole position ) viewed as a prestigious achievement for the rider, but the gives him except at the start of no benefit.

Formula 1

In Formula 1, the later world champion Giuseppe Farina drove the first official lap time for the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in history in 1950 at Silverstone. So far, record world champion Michael Schumacher is the pilot with most fastest laps in the history of Formula 1 (77 ), followed by Alain Prost (41) and Kimi Raikkonen (38). Among the teams Ferrari holds more than 200 fastest laps the record. See also Formula 1 statistics.

Reaching the pole position, driving the fastest lap and win in the same Grand Prix is known in motorsports for a hat trick. Most hat-tricks in Formula 1 - namely, 22 - scored in his career, also Michael Schumacher.

Since 2007, the fastest drivers will be rewarded in Formula 1 with the DHL Fastest Lap Trophy. The winner is the driver who has driven the most fastest laps at the end of the season.

• Motorsport