FIA’s World Motor Sport Council announces F1 rule changes
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| New wet start rules for 2017 |
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has revealed that Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli will mandate the number of sets of compounds available per driver for the opening five rounds in 2017.
Pirelli has relaxed its tire choices this season, bringing three compounds to each event, with drivers given free choice for 10 of the 13 sets of tires available.
However, for visits to Australia, China, Bahrain, Russia and Spain next season, each driver will have the same number of compounds available for use throughout the course of the weekend.
"For the first five events of the 2017 Championship season only, the normal team selection procedure for tires will not be used as the deadline occurs before pre-season testing," read a statement.
"For these events the supplier [Pirelli] will allocate two sets of the hardest compound specification, four sets of the medium compound specification and seven sets of the softest compound specification to each driver."
Pirelli has been conducting widespread testing using its 2017 rubber, which will be 25 per cent wider than the current specification.
In move to clamp down on drivers stockpiling power unit elements, as Mercedes elected to do with Lewis Hamilton in Belgium, the penalty system has been adjusted.
Rather than building a sizable grid penalty for one event, sanctions can now be carried over to following Grands Prix, in a bid to deter teams and drivers amassing additional elements.
"During any single event, if a driver introduces more than one of a power unit element that is subject to penalty, only the last element fitted may be used at subsequent events without further penalty," confirmed the FIA.
"This is to prevent the stockpiling of spare power unit elements."
Further changes include confirmation that wet races which commence behind the Safety Car will feature a standing start once conditions sufficiently improve.
"From 2017, if a Safety Car is deemed to be required for the beginning of a race due to wet weather, a normal standing start will occur once the track is deemed safe to race.
"The process will see the Safety Car return to the pit lane and the cars assemble on the grid for the start."
In another tweak, drivers will be permitted to use a different helmet livery at one event per season.
“Drivers must continue to present their helmets in substantially the same livery at every event of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship for easy recognition of the driver in the car," the FIA statement reads.
“However a driver will now be allowed one event (such as a home race) for a special livery (at the driver’s choice). Drivers will also be allowed to change their helmet liveries if changing teams during the season.
“During any single event, if a driver introduces more than one of a power unit element that is subject to penalty, only the last element fitted may be used at subsequent events without further penalty. This is to prevent the stockpiling of spare power unit elements.
“For the first five events of the 2017 Championship season only, the normal team selection procedure for tires will not be used as the deadline occurs before pre-season testing.
“For these events the supplier will allocate two sets of the hardest compound specification, four sets of the medium compound specification and seven sets of the softest compound specification to each driver."