The FIA has published the 2013 regulations

If the new regulations are traditionally published in July after a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, the 2013 edition of the Formula 1 Technical and Sporting Regulations was delayed until the end of September this year, with the FIA publishing it yesterday on [its website](https://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/FIAFormulaOneWorldChampionship.aspx). And yet, the changes are minimal: most of the cars entered this year are even already compliant with the next Technical Regulations!

Indeed, on this side, in addition to the introduction of an optional cover to be placed on the nose of the single-seaters to hide the unsightly step at the front, this batch includes two articles countering the Mercedes-type Double-DRS. Thus, firstly, any duct aiming to channel air will be prohibited within the neutral section of the front wing – the central 50 centimeters with a standardized profile. Secondly, the DRS can no longer be used to change the geometry of a duct, either directly or indirectly. However, the passive system developed by Lotus and tested by Mercedes at Magny-Cours is still authorized in its current state.

The other minor changes aren’t really changes: they are merely clarifications of technical details (tolerances on certain measurements, for example). It’s worth noting that there are no additional restrictions on exhausts: Coanda effect exhausts remain allowed, and the rules on engine mappings will not change. These are therefore rather sporadic changes: 2013 is a year of transition, the last of the V8, and the teams will simply focus on developing their cars while awaiting the new regulations introduced in 2014.

On the Sporting Regulations side, it’s barely more. First and foremost, rules already laid down in other documents, such as the 2009 Concorde Agreements or directives drafted during the season by Charlie Whiting, have this time been included directly. This is the case, for example, with clarifications on defense rules on the track, or the limit of 60 people per team at race venues, or certain rules regarding private testing (limitation to one car per team, schedules, circuits used).

These will be reduced compared to 2012: private tests will once again be banned during the season. The Mugello test session, conducted this year after the first races outside Europe, will not be repeated on this date. Only three four-day sessions will be organized before the start of the season, at circuits to be determined. No other testing period, apart from the three days reserved for young drivers, will be allowed for the teams. Furthermore, promotional events, which were unlimited in number in the 2012 edition, are now restricted to 8 per season, still limited to 100km of running, using parts that have already participated in a race and a car fitted with demonstration tires.

Parc Fermé is also subject to a slight adaptation, following the controversy in Canada regarding a possible change in Red Bull’s suspension geometry between qualifying and the race. To prevent any modifications, teams will have to submit a suspension settings sheet for each of their cars to the FIA delegate before the start of Q1, allowing officials to verify that no changes have been made. Any modification to the geometry will now be clearly prohibited and punishable by a start from the pit lane, as with any other unauthorized change.

Finally, as an anecdote, note that the red stickers attached to the onboard camera above the lead driver of a team will disappear: while yellow stickers will persist on the second car of each team, the teams will be required to leave the camera as provided by FOM on the other car. However, there is no sign of the markings tested by Mercedes at Magny-Cours on a shark fin, aiming to better identify the drivers. But unlike the Technical Regulations, the Sporting Regulations can still be modified before the start of the 2013 season. To be continued.