New Rules For 1999

Several alterations to Formula One's Sporting and Technical Regulations have been introduced for the 1999 season, aimed at clearing up some of the controversy which has arisen this year.


The most widely expected change has also been confirmed, however, with an additional groove added to front tyres in a further effort to slow cars down. The introduction of grooves for 1998 has only succeeded in pegging speeds and lap times at existing levels, and designers are expected to find ways of overcoming this next year.


The FIA has also stated that tyre regulations for each successive season will be determined by September 1, in order to provide both tyre manufacturers and teams with sufficient time to prepare. After this date, the specification can only change with the agreement of the Formula One commission.


Stop-go penalty regulations have also received a tweak, with a uniform time of 10 seconds applied to all such punishments. However, in order to prevent a repeat of the British GP fiasco - which saw Michael Schumacher take his penalty after finishing the race - any penalty imposed inside the final five laps of a race will be represented by the addition of 25 seconds to the drivers overall time instead of a stop-go ruling.

New technical regulations will be introduced governing roll hoops, seats, neutral gears and fuel specifications. From the start of next season, the height of roll hoops will be increased by 20mm to 70mm above the driver's head, seats will have to be removable with the driver still in place, and a universal device to select neutral will have to be located in the same place in all cars. Fuel specifications, meanwhile, will focus on the reduced levels of both sulphur and benzene.


Finally, the governing body has agreed that no more than 24 cars will be permitted to the championship, allowing room for Honda to enter two cars in 2000.