New rain tires, radio messages… the F1 Commission approves several changes
The F1 Commission validated several significant measures just before the winter tests and the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain. Here are the main regulatory changes for 2023.
The FIA, through the F1 Commission, held its first meeting of the year, chaired by the president of the FOM, Stefano Domenicali, and Nikolas Tombazis, FIA’s single-seater director.
In addition to the modification of several circuits on the calendar and the increased budget cap, the F1 Commission, from London, has approved several measures that will be implemented during the season.
A new rain tire
After conducting tests, including at Paul Ricard with the support of teams, Pirelli claims to have developed a new tire for wet conditions. More performance-oriented than the previous specification, this tire does not require the use of tire warmers, which will probably be banned by 2024.
The F1 Commission has also announced that the new tire construction will be available starting from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
Rain cover
Last year, during the last meeting of the F1 Commission, the idea of introducing a rain package on F1 cars was discussed in order to drastically reduce the spray generated behind the cars in wet weather.
With the support of the grid teams for this project, the Commission has established an upcoming technical directive to allow teams to carry out work outside the restrictions of aerodynamic testing and beyond the cost cap. On-track testing will be scheduled for the second or third quarter of 2023.
Radio messages
Another modification, a relaxation of the regulations that govern radio messages to and from drivers at any time during a Grand Prix weekend, has been announced. As a reminder, radio communications during the formation lap between the driver and the pit wall were strictly regulated.
A closed park in a sprint race.
Finally, to reduce the current workload of the technical personnel and the FIA stewards during events including a Sprint session, the Commission has approved a revised policy for accepting requests for Parc Fermé.
This will allow for a Closed Park, during Sprint weekends, with a greater margin of maneuver to change components that may be damaged, and a greater use of the Closed Park self-declaration forms. This will apply throughout the Closed Park period, from the departure of the car for the qualifying session on Friday until the departure of the car for the race. This will be implemented through a technical directive.
