China GP showed fastest lap "really works" says Brawn

Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn believes the Chinese Grand Prix was the clearest indication yet that the decision to introduce a bonus point for the fastest lap in 2019 is working.

Pierre Gasly scored the quickest lap and therefore picked up an extra point for Red Bull Racing - as he recorded his highest finish as a driver for his new team.

"I was particularly pleased to see the innovation introduced in partnership with the FIA for this season, that of awarding a point to the driver setting the fastest race lap, is beginning to have an effect," Brawn said to RaceFans. 

"The lure of an extra point, as long as it's set by a driver who is in the top 10 at the flag, was driven by the desire to add a bit of spice to the final stages of a race, especially when the order seems more or less set. China worked out just that way.

"The top six positions more or less decided, but with Pierre Gasly a healthy amount of time clear of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo, a Red Bull team decided to exploit the opportunity that gap gave for a free pit stop. They pitted the Frenchman for a set of soft tyres and sent him on his way for a crack at the fastest lap.

"It was great to watch the timing screens on the penultimate lap, seeing Gasly post personal bests in all three sectors to eventually steal the fastest lap from Sebastian Vettel.

"Prior to Gasly's stop, you could also listen to other drivers discussing their options in the closing stages with their team on the pit wall, even though none of them took any extreme risks. This was a rule invented to please the fans and I think that today we saw that it really works."