DECEMBER 7, 2011

FIA clarifies 'one-move' rule

The sport's governing body, the FIA, has confirmed a number of changes to the F1 sporting and technical regulations at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in India.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, has confirmed a number of changes to the F1 sporting and technical regulations at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in India.

Perhaps the most significant development in terms of the actual racing is a clarification of a grey area in the so-called 'one move rule.' In future, "Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position."

Some drivers will claim that was their understanding in any case but the most contentious race with regard this was the Italian GP at Monza, where Michael Schumacher's Mercedes defended staunchly against Lewis Hamilton's McLaren and repeatedly blocked moves and then returned to the racing line.

The clarification, if indeed that's what it is, should increase the feasibility of overtaking, particularly in association with KERS and DRS.

A change to the Safety Car regulations means that, in future, all cars that have been lapped will be allowed to unlap themselves and join the back of the queue before the official car returns to the pits. That means they will not impede cars fighting for position, providing for more excitement upon the restart.

Cars that were in the pit lane when a race is suspended will also now be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in the position they were in when the race was suspended. This is in response to teams feeling that drivers were unfairly penalised when this year's Canadian GP was halted.

Also prompted by Montreal, there will now be a maximum race time of four hours to ensure that a lengthy suspension does not go on ad infinitum, causing problems for TV schedulers.

In an attempt to further bolster safety standards, cars may no longer take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests. Side impact structures will now have to be subjected to a further (upward) push-off test.

Complaints about a total lack of testing opportunity have been addressed by the FIA now permitting one three-day in-season test rather than the total ban on in-season testing that currently exists.

Drivers may now be penalised if they leave the track without a justifiable reason, for instance to cut a chicane on a reconnaissance lap or 'in' lap to save time and fuel.

To facilitate extra running on a Friday, all tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice rather than just the three sets currently permitted.

On the technical side, the FIA has confirmed that exhaust tailpipes are now strictly regulated in order to ensure that the aerodynamic effect exhaust gases have on the car is kept to an absolute minimum. And all engine standard ECU set up and control parameters, formerly contained only within a technical directive, will now be written into the technical regulations.