FIA announces rule changes for 2013 and 2014

05/12/2012

At its meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Istanbul, a number of changes to the regulations for 2013 and 2014 have been agreed.

For 2013, in terms of the Technical Regulations, a more stringent front wing deflection tests is to be introduced, a response to continued claims of flexing, particularly on the Red Bull.

Minor changes have also been made to the front roll structure design, whilst there is an increase in minimum weight to compensate for an increase in tyre weight.

In terms of the deletion of the 'force majeure' allowance when a car stops on the track in qualifying, the FIA will now determine how much fuel the car would have used to get back to the pits and add it to the one litre sample minimum.

All chassis will now have higher static loads applied to them (formerly only one chassis was tested to the higher loads with subsequent chassis being tested to 20% lower proof loads).

In terms of the Sporting Regulations, for safety reasons, the use of the DRS during practice will now only be allowed in the zone it will be used on the track in the race.

Additionally, the team personnel curfew is to be extended from six to eight hours on Thursday night and only two exceptions will be allowed during a season (formerly four).

Looking ahead to 2014, a new draft with numerous changes was discussed and agreed by the F1 Technical Working Group and Powertrain Working Group.

As expected, the requirement for cars to be driven exclusively under electric power in the pit lane has been postponed until 2017, as first predicted by Pitpass back in August 2011.

Additionally, a number of changes have been made to the power unit regulations with the aim of limiting technology in some areas in order to reduce development costs.

Finally, changes made to bodywork design, originally aimed at reducing downforce and drag for increased efficiency, have reverted to 2012 specification.