Elsewhere, no team will be allowed to have more than two cars ready to run at any one time, effectively removing the availability of spare cars, while gearboxes now join engines on the longevity list, with each unit having to last for four successive races, based on the Saturday and Sunday of competition. Any unscheduled replacement will incur a five-place penalty on the starting grid at that event.
Where engine changes used to result in a ten-place punishment, each driver will now be allowed a 'free pass' for their first failure of the season – although the failure must be genuine and not an attempt to gain an advantage. Engines still have to last for two successive races as before.
The cars themselves will look slightly different thanks to the requirement for higher cockpit surrounds, although most teams have managed to incorporate the safety measure aesthetically.
F1’s environmental image has been given a minor coating of green with the requirement that a minimum of 5.75 per cent of fuel must be derived from biological sources, but the biggest change on that front comes from the striking out of the controversial ‘fuel burn’ phase at the start of third qualifying.
The final stage of Saturday’s key session has been shortened to ten minutes as a result, with the opening session extended to 20 minutes in an effort to give more track time – and space – to the full field. The second session remains at 15 minutes.
With refuelling still not allowed between the end of qualifying and the start of the grand prix, teams are likely to run shorter first stints in the race.
