Rational points on fibrations with few non-split fibres

Abstract

We revisit the abstract framework underlying the fibration method for producing rational points on the total space of fibrations over the projective line. By fine-tuning its dependence on external arithmetic conjectures, we render the method unconditional when the degree of the non-split locus is $\leq 2$, as well as in various instances where it is $3$. We are also able to obtain improved results in the regime that is conditionally accessible under Schinzel's hypothesis, by incorporating into it, for the first time, a technique due to Harari for controlling the Brauer--Manin obstruction in families.