Fastest lap
Quickest lap run during a race
In motorsports, the fastest lap is the quickest lap run during a race. In some racing series, like NASCAR, the fastest lap awards championship points for a driver or team. In Formula One and MotoGP no point is awarded for the fastest lap.
01Formula One
In Formula One, 141 different drivers have made fastest race laps. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the highest number of fastest laps with 77, followed by Lewis Hamilton with 69. Since 2007, the DHL Fastest Lap Award is given to the driver with the most fastest laps in a season.
Between 1950-1959 and 2019-2024, an extra point was given to the driver who recorded the fastest lap during a race. Between 2019 and 2024, the point could only be awarded if the driver achieving the fastest lap finished the race in 10th position or better. The point has been discontinued for the 2025 season.
Fastest laps are often set during the final laps of a race. Lap times often decrease as tracks get "rubbered in" and fuel weights go down as a race progresses.
Top ten drivers in Formula One history with the most fastest laps
| Bold | Driver has competed in the 2026 season |
| Driver | Fastest laps | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | 77 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | 69 |
| 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | 46 |
| 4 | Alain Prost | 41 |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | 38 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | 37 |
| 7 | Nigel Mansell | 30 |
| 8 | Jim Clark | 28 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | 26 |
| 10 | Mika Häkkinen | 25 |
| Source: | ||
Formula One performance hybrid racecar
In recent studies the LeMans endurance project has been reconfiguring Formula One racecars and making them faster by reconfiguring powertrain configurations. These powertrain reconfigurations have drastically been able to cut the time of the fastest lap achievable by Formula One racecars. This team also studied the capabilities of Formula One racecars and studied how to improve the performance of the cars. Ultimately they designed a powertrain configuration that cut the fastest lap time achievable by a standard Formula One racecar by over 20 seconds.
Formula One aerodynamics studies
A researcher at Durham University studied the aerodynamic effects on Formula One racecars and how to make them more efficient and ultimately faster. A Formula One racecar's lap time advantage is the result of the cornering performance of the vehicle. If the tyres can have more grip there would be more friction and less slippage which would allow the car to go faster through corners, and subsequently decrease the time it takes to complete a lap. Also if the powertrain had more power and if the car experienced less drag then it could achieve a faster lap time.
02NASCAR
In 2025, NASCAR began awarding the Xfinity Fastest Lap Award and a bonus point to whoever sets the fastest lap in a given race. All three national series (Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Truck) are eligible for the award.
03Grand Prix motorcycle racing
In Grand Prix motorcycle racing, which includes the 50cc, 80cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP classes, Giacomo Agostini holds the record for the most fastest laps with 117, Valentino Rossi is second with 96 fastest laps, and Marc Márquez is third with 91 fastest laps.
Top ten riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing with the most fastest laps
| Bold | Rider still competing in Grand Prix motorcycle racing as of the 2026 season |
| Rider | Fastest laps | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giacomo Agostini | 117 |
| 2 | Valentino Rossi | 96 |
| 3 | Marc Márquez | 91 |
| 4 | Ángel Nieto | 81 |
| 5 | Mike Hailwood | 79 |
| 6 | Dani Pedrosa | 64 |
| 7 | Mick Doohan | 46 |
| 8 | Max Biaggi | 42 |
| 9 | Jorge Lorenzo | 37 |
| 10 | Phil Read | 36 |
| Source: | ||
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Fastest lap”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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