The FIA world motorsports Council approved a number of changes to the 2012 Formula 1 sporting and technical regulations for next season.
We run the rule over the most significant changes.
- A new overtaking rule, preventing drivers from ‘moving back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position’, was rubber-stamped.
- The 2012 exhaust regulations, preventing exhaust-blown diffusers by mandating top exit exhausts were approved.
- Grand prix race time limited to a maximum of four hours, capping the length of a race suspension (red flag).
- All lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves under the safety car to prevent back markers interfering with the race near the front of the queue.
- Drivers short-cutting the track without a ‘justified reason’ will be punished.
- A driver can now use any of his tyre allocation on the opening day of practice. Previously there were restrictions on the rubber used.