The DHL Fastest Lap Award is given annually by the courier and Formula One global partner and logistics provider DHL "to recognize the driver who most consistently demonstrates pure speed, with the fastest lap at the highest number of races each season",[1] and to reward the winning driver for "characteristics such as excellent performance, passion, can-do attitude, reliability and precision".[2] DHL, the trophy's official naming patron,[3] first awarded it in 2007.[4] It is presented to the driver with the highest number of fastest laps over the course of the season,[5] with one point awarded to the fastest lap holder of a Grand Prix.[6] In the event of a tie, there is a countback and the driver with the highest number of second-fastest laps earns the award. If this is also tied, third-fastest laps are considered, and so on, until a winner is found.[7] The trophy is presented to the winning driver at the final round of the season.[6][8]
The inaugural winner was the Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen with six fastest laps in 2007.[9] The award has been decided on a tiebreaker on three occasions. Räikkönen and his teammate Felipe Massa tied with six fastest laps and two second-quickest lap times in 2007 with the former winning by having more third-fastest laps than the latter.[7] In 2009, Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber had three fastest laps at the end of the season but Vettel won with two more second-fastest lap times than Webber.[10] Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton each had five fastest laps in 2010 with Alonso finishing ahead with a higher number of second-best laps.[11] British drivers have won four times and German and Finnish racers three times, while Mercedes have won on six occasions to Red Bull Racing's four. The 2019 winner was Hamilton of the Mercedes team with six fastest laps.[5]
^ ab"Alonso gewinnt DHL Fastest Lap Trophy" [Alonso Wins DHL Fastest Lap Trophy] (in German). motorsport-total.com. 15 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.