Regulatory changes for the 2017 season

The FIA met a few days ago to ratify the changes that will come into effect for the 2017 regulations governing Formula 1.

Several areas are concerned;

– Starts on a wet track:

After a few laps behind the safety car, from now on, once the track is deemed sufficiently drivable, the drivers will position themselves on the starting grid to proceed with a classic standing start. This procedure is justified by the criticism regarding the starts of the 2016 Monaco and Silverstone Grand Prix, which were given under safety car conditions.

– Tires:

For the first five races of the 2017 season, the normal selection among the three tire compounds by the teams will not be applied. For the first five Grand Prix, Pirelli will allocate each driver two sets of the hardest compound, four sets of the intermediate compound, and seven sets of the softest compound. This has been justified by the FIA by the fact that teams must make their choices before the winter testing and there is uncertainty due to the new regulations.

– Partnerships between teams:

The FIA has also decided to more strictly regulate the cooperation between teams for the supply of parts and personnel. Limits are set regarding subcontracting arrangements and which parts can be shared between teams. This also includes wind tunnel testing and the transfer of personnel between partnering teams. This aims to regulate the close relationships that may exist between Red Bull and Toro Rosso as well as between Ferrari and Haas.

– Engine penalties:

It will always be possible to restock power unit parts, but if one component is changed several times, only the last one introduced can be used without incurring a penalty for the next Grand Prix. The goal is to prevent a driver from restocking parts by avoiding penalties over a single weekend, as was the case with Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix this season.

Helmet decorations of pilots:

The drivers will only be able to change their livery for one Grand Prix of their choice and if they change teams during the season.

#FIA announces World Motor Sport Council decisions> https://t.co/GskZDHPs3p pic.twitter.com/OE9Cwkc5Sy

— FIA (@fia) 28 septembre 2016