FIA announces latest F1 rule updates
The Safety Car rules have also been adjusted ahead of the upcoming campaign, with two key alterations being made. There will now be a predicted ‘40 percent decrease in lap time’ when the Safety Car is deployed, with a limit on speed enforced over two laps rather than one. The FIA has also clarified that drivers will not be permitted to use the pit lane if the Safety Car is on-track, unless a tire change is required.
The full list of FIA changes:
– At certain events, one additional specification of dry weather tire may be made available to all teams for evaluation purposes. Teams will be informed about such an additional specification at least one week before the start of the relevant event. Two sets of these tires will be allocated to each driver for use during P1 and P2, and any such tires must be returned to the tire supplier before the start of P3
– One additional set of ‘Prime’ (harder compound) specification tires may be made available to all drivers. Teams will be informed about such an additional set at least one week before the start of the relevant event. In this instance, the additional set will be available for use during P1 and P2. One set of ‘Prime’ tires must then be returned to the tire supplier after P1, and two further sets of ‘Prime’ and one set of ‘Option’ specification tires returned before the start of P3
– The Safety Car speed limit (an approximate 40 percent decrease in lap time) will now be enforced over two laps instead of one. The purpose is to ensure that cars are driven at a safe speed until they reach the Safety Car
– During a Safety Car period the pit exit light will remain green for the duration, unless the race is subsequently suspended
– Other than when the Safety Car has been asked to use the pit lane, no car may enter the pits while the Safety Car is deployed unless it is for the purpose of changing tires