Changes on the regulations front for 2012
The FIA published today the modifications made to the 2012 regulations of the Formula 1 World Championship. These include the reduction in the use of blown diffusers, as well as changes to the maximum duration of a race and also the intervention of the safety car.
As expected, the FIA decided at the World Motor Sport Council, which is being held today in Delhi, India, to heavily restrict blown diffusers from 2012 onwards. The governing body specifies that exhaust exits are now strictly regulated to ensure that the aerodynamic effect of exhaust gases on the car is kept to an absolute minimum.
The FIA has also decided to address the issue of cars that are a lap or more behind under the safety car regime; these cars will now be allowed to overtake the safety car to reposition themselves behind the line of cars in the correct order according to the standings.
A maximum duration of four hours for races has also been implemented to prevent, during the suspension of a race, it from lasting too long – as was the case in Malaysia in 2009 or this season in Canada.
The FIA also confirms the presence of three test days during the season and has decided to take measures to ensure that drivers no longer cut chicanes or the track to gain time, among other things. The rule stating that a driver cannot change lines more than once when defending their position has also been added to the regulations.
The teams will also be able to use as many tires as they want – within the limits allocated by Pirelli – during Friday’s practice sessions, whereas this season they could only use a maximum of three sets per driver on Friday.
Summary of the main regulatory changes for 2012
– Exhaust outlets are now strictly regulated to ensure that the aerodynamic effect of exhaust gases on the car is kept to an absolute minimum;
– A single-seater will no longer be able to take part in pre-season testing without having passed all crash tests;
Before the safety car returns to the pits, the cars that are more than one lap down will be allowed to overtake the safety car to get back in line behind the safety car so as not to cause an obstruction when the race resumes;
– Drivers can no longer leave the track without a justified reason, for example, cutting a chicane during reconnaissance laps or during an in-lap to the pits to save time for fuel conservation;
