The FIA has just announced the regulation changes for the Formula One season of 2014. Following a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris, the following items have been unanimously approved:
Cost Cap
The principle of a global cost cap has been adopted. The limit will be applied from January 2015.
A working group will be established within the coming days comprising the FIA, representatives of the Commercial Rights Holder and Team representatives. The objective of the working group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.
With that in mind, this will act as a double edged sword as smaller teams like Caterham and Marussia will benefit while the bigger players like Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and McLaren, who are reported to have annual budgets of over £100m pounds, will not welcome such an announcement.
Pirelli Tyre Test – Bahrain, 17-19 December, 2013
The F1 Commission agreed to a change to the 2013 Sporting Regulations, on safety grounds, allowing the Formula One tyre supplier to carry out a three-day test in Bahrain from 17-19 December, 2013. All Formula One teams have been invited to take part in the test and six have accepted: Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro Rosso.
This is to allow teams to test out the new Pirelli tyres that will be used for the 2014 season, hoping the tyre debacle that haunted Pirelli this year will not be repeated again.
Driver numbers
Drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99, for the duration of their career in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Number 1 will be reserved for the current World Champion, should he choose to use it.
If more than one driver chooses the same number, priority will be given to the driver who finished the highest in the previous year’s championship. This follows the similar path with MotoGP where the participants can choose based on their favorite number.
New penalties
The principle of a five-second penalty for minor infringements was agreed. In what form such a penalty will be applied will be discussed with Formula One teams in order for that new regulation to be introduced for the 2014 season.
Points for the last race
Double drivers’ and constructors’ points will be awarded at the final race of the Formula One season in order to maximize focus on the Championship until the end of the campaign. This means the winner of the final race in Abu Dhabi will score 50 points which may overturn the championship. However this has been the subject of major criticism among F1 fans, so there’s a possibility that the FIA might eighty-six this idea. Regardless, roll on the 2014 season!
[SOURCE: FIA Formula One Press Office]
