No shark fins, T-wings or Halo in 2018!
The F1 Strategy Group met yesterday in Paris at the FIA headquarters to decide on changes to the regulations for the 2018 season.

The members of the strategic group met yesterday to decide on the regulations for the 2018 season, several areas are affected by the changes decided during this meeting.
The first point that was discussed concerns two elements that have been particularly talked about at the start of this season, namely the shark fin and the T-wing. A loophole in the regulations regarding a part of the car, located above the engine cover, allowed teams to exploit this area. Teams therefore added an aerodynamic appendage resembling a shark fin on the engine cover to improve stability at the rear of the car. In addition to this device, another appendage called a T-wing, referencing its shape, appeared on several cars to further enhance airflow. Starting from the 2018 season, these parts will be banned because the regulation article that allowed the exploitation of this area has been rewritten to prevent this possibility in the future.
The area in question is illustrated in red below:
A bit of tech insight into the new #F1 rule that has been needed to ban T-wings and shark fins for 2018 https://t.co/Y8E67OzpN2
— Jon Noble (@NobleF1) 26 avril 2017
Another point that has been the subject of debate: the Halo. With the aim of protecting drivers from head-level impacts, the experimental device had been tested for introduction in 2018. The FIA decided to abandon this project to focus on a shield-type protection system. This protection system was shown to teams and drivers during the Chinese Grand Prix and consists of a transparent protection that only covers part of the cockpit to protect drivers’ heads. The device will undergo testing during the season to be introduced next year.
Here is an overview of the shield system:
Some key #F1 car safety developments and structural changes are on their way in 2018. Take a closer look here 👀 ⬇️ https://t.co/VRbIguGdvR
— Formula 1 (@F1) 27 avril 2017
It has also been decided that representatives of teams that are not members of the strategic group will be invited to meetings as observers. Currently, only the top five teams in the championship are part of the organization making essential decisions at the regulatory level of Formula 1.
The other areas discussed are more diverse. The FIA wants to improve the visibility of drivers’ names and numbers on the cars so that they are clearer. This regulatory change will take effect from the Spanish Grand Prix. Measures will also be taken to ensure that oil cannot be used as fuel. Only one specification of oil can be used during a Grand Prix weekend.
Moreover, Pirelli will be allowed to develop wet tire compounds in 2018 using 2016 cars equipped with older dimension tires. Finally, from the next season, if a red flag is waved to suspend a race, drivers will restart it with a standing start.