New Formula 1 rules have been published which aim to tackle problems which surfaced in the opening races of 2024.
The updates to the sporting regulations are targeted at preventing drivers from jumping the start and ensuring teams do not sit out rain-affected practice sessions to save tyres.Lando Norris was accused by some of his rivals of jumping the start in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last month when his car moved before the red starting lights went out. However an investigation cleared the McLaren driver as the FIA transponder fitted to his car did not indicate it had moved.
An update to the F1 sporting regulations now allows the stewards to rule a car has moved too soon even if the transponder fails to recognise it. The revised rule no longer states the judgement must be made “by an FIA approved and supplied transponder.”
It states a driver will be penalised for a false start if they move “after the four-second light is illuminated and before the start signal is given by extinguishing all red lights.” The ‘four-second’ warning is given when the second pair of red lights is illuminated prior to the start.
“From the five sets of intermediate tyres allocated to each driver under Article 30.2 (a) ii, if [first, second or third practice) is declared wet, one set of intermediate tyres must be electronically returned no later than two hours after the end of [third practice],” the new rule reads.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was among those who voiced his displeasure over the lack of running which occured during the rain-hit second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka earlier this month.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Formula 1
- FIA confirms details of Verstappen’s ‘community service’ swearing penalty
- Bottas handed five-place grid penalty he may never serve
- Recovery drive from 16th to fourth a “good way to end” Mercedes chapter – Hamilton
- Verstappen apologised for collision, his penalty “speaks for itself” – Piastri
- Perez will ‘discuss what’s best for everyone’ at Red Bull after dismal end to season
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
30th April 2024, 18:14
A driver or team is no longer apparently able to choose how they conduct their weekend hope the FIA by taking a set of intermediates away regardless of whether they have been used or not.
Will this really force the team to run the cars?
Nick T.
30th April 2024, 18:33
With this clarification, they’ll likely penalize Alonso for a jump start every time he engages his clutch. Engaging his clutch, being marginally to the left in his starting box, trying to pass other drivers, etc. The guy is out of control!
Let’s all remember other penalties we didn’t like! Perez being penalized in 2013 at Spa “for pushing Grosjean off” is one that always rankled me every time I rewatch that race. A lot less penalties back then, but equally inconsistent.
BasCB (@bascb)
30th April 2024, 19:01
Yeah, it ignores that there were VERY good reasons to leave it to a sensor that can be calibrated but is inherently immune to having “views” and being pushed into making a decision one way or the other.
Agree on the Perez penalty yeah. Let’s get a vote going for what else should be overturned!
About the wet tyres, I am sure that we’ll get to see a situation where this will backfire somehow only too soon too.
Johnny SJ
30th April 2024, 20:45
I fully agree on Alonso, he’s out of control this days. The older he gets, the worse he becomes. Unnecessary penalties in the name of racing.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
30th April 2024, 19:19
This urge to have eeevery single session with cars running at pace is ridiculous. It’s practice. If they don’t need to run, they won’t. Even if they give them more tyres. If the rest of the weekend is bone dry, why would you even risk running on a wet track?
People need to understand that sometimes this happens. Is it bad? yes, but what are you gonna do? It’s like planning a picnic and waking up to a rainy day.
What are they going to do next? put umbrellas all over the track?
Laurent
30th April 2024, 19:29
Indoor tracks.
kuvemar
30th April 2024, 22:28
If you travel hundreds of miles and spent all you can afford just to be at a picnic once in your life. A picnic that can easily be held in the rain nontheless.
MichaelN
1st May 2024, 8:09
Force them to run.
Fridays and Saturdays also get paying fans trackside, a not insignificant part of whom won’t be there on Sunday for the race. They deserve some running for their hard earned tickets.
Now if it’s totally impossible to run, sure. Cancel the sessions. But that’s extremely rare.
Sihrtogg (@sihrtogg)
2nd May 2024, 20:44
I’d rather have my money back than seeing all cars do 1 off-pace lap for the sake of complying with a stupid rule.
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
1st May 2024, 10:21
Circuits need ramps amd loopings. F1 cars can theoretically drive upside down ist it? Great for the show.
And maybe we can have a second euro-asia based formula 1 series then, where it’s all about the sport on tracks with gravel and a mix of technical corners and straights followed by low speed corners
An Sionnach
30th April 2024, 20:00
Thought so. Norris clearly moved before the start. The rules needed to be changed so the same thing cannot happen in future. Was there an investigation as to what happened to his transponder?
Mr A
30th April 2024, 21:35
He stopped though? There was no advantage and he actually compromised his start.
Jumo start rules should be there to prevent people gaining an advantage.
juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
1st May 2024, 0:54
Get next to a rev-head at a red light and start revving your engine. Then while he is looking at you: look up at the red light, show surprise and move forward (just a bit). The rev-head will drop his clutch and charge off into the traffic creating confusion and delay.
This was Norris’ dastardly plan for Russell. Too bad for him that George is such a nice, careful boy.
An Sionnach
1st May 2024, 23:53
It’s good to discourage jump starts with a simple rule that once you jump it you get penalised. If the rule is you shouldn’t get an advantage that encourages people who’ve made a mistake like this to stop at a standing start when everyone else might be moving. That’s a recipe for an accident. They’ve changed the rule so they can issue the penalty next time.
grat
30th April 2024, 23:55
And put this deck chair over here, and that deck chair over there….
Jordi Casademunt (@casjo)
1st May 2024, 18:46
Until last year, each driver was allocated 4 sets of intermediate tyres and 3 sets of wet tyres for the weekend. It also had this specific rule:
“30.5g At each Event where a sprint session is not scheduled, if either P1 or P2 are declared wet one (1) additional set of intermediate tyres will be made available to any driver who used a set of intermediate tyres during either session. Under such circumstances, one (1) used set of intermediate tyres must be electronically returned before the start of the qualifying practice session.
If neither P1 nor P2 are declared wet, but the likelihood of P3 being declared wet is deemed by the FIA to be high, one (1) additional set of intermediate tyres will be made available to all drivers. Under such circumstances, one (1) set of intermediate tyres must be electronically returned before the start of the qualifying practice session.”
This rule meant that running an intermediate set during FP1, FP2 or FP3 could be “free”, removing a possible disadvantage teams could have in qualifying or the race.
This rule was removed for 2024, changing the tyre allocation to 5 sets of intermediates and 2 of wets. 30.5g was removed (to keep the total amount of intermediate tyres the same?) but the unintended consequence is that running an intermediate set during FP1, FP2 or FP3, even if qualifying and the race will be wet (a situation where the team and driver would want as much experience on track as possible), can put the team at a disadvantage.
The new 30.5g rule seeks to correct that. It’s not forcing the teams to do anything. It’s correcting a situation where the rules were discouraging running in circumstances where the teams and drivers would want to.
Tristan
1st May 2024, 19:13
About time false start rules were changed. Seems even the FIA can only defend silly rules for so long.
Meanwhile 26.14:
Drivers must be medically checked after impact warning light goes off was changed to “may be”… That’s a concerning change. I can’t imagine why they would want to allow any chance of a driver not being checked medically after a high impact incident.
Tristan
1st May 2024, 19:14
This was supposed to be top-level, not a reply
Alesici
2nd May 2024, 10:57
Wow, that is a really bad step for worsening safety which is completely uncalled for. If true, the article should be edited to highlight this, or else a new article written.
Oh well, I guess we can reliably trust all racing drivers to flag up that they might be feeling too unwell to drive the car following a high G force accident. They have nothing to gain from preventing the reserve driver from demonstrating their skills in their place.