The brand new F1 season kicks off this weekend on the Australian Grand Prix, and there are a number of key adjustments to the principles for the brand new season.
Right here’s a have a look at the headline rule tweaks forward of the primary race in Melbourne:
No level for quickest lap
Drivers who end inside the highest 10 and set the quickest lap will not be awarded a further championship level. The choice to take away it probably stems from Daniel Ricciardo’s last-ditch effort to steal it off Lando Norris on the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Ricciardo, who was behind the sphere driving for Racing Bulls, stole the quickest lap from Norris. Whereas it was only a single level, in a good championship battle, some felt that Crimson Bull may tactically use their sister staff to cease their rivals from taking the quickest lap.
Flexi-wing clampdown
Versatile entrance and rear wings have been a serious speaking level for the reason that center of final season. McLaren’s flexi-rear wing, highlighted on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, attracted the eye of the entire F1 paddock.
From spherical 9 (Spain), stricter checks are being imposed on entrance wings, which may shake up the aggressive order.
Cooling measures for drivers
The sweltering situations skilled by drivers on the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix compelled the FIA to introduce a specialist cooling vest. A ‘warmth hazard’ warning will likely be used when temperatures attain 31 levels Celsius, giving drivers the choice of sporting the brand new cooling vest.
In 2025, this stays elective, although, with it prone to turn out to be obligatory subsequent yr.
Extra monitor time for rookies
Rookies will likely be given extra monitor time throughout official F1 observe periods in 2025. Earlier than this yr, all 10 groups have been required to run a rookie driver twice all through the season.
This has been doubled for 2025, with groups permitted to run rookies twice per automotive. For Alpine, Mercedes, Sauber, and Racing Bulls, operating rookie drivers with two or fewer begins fulfils half of the required quota.
Monaco GP shake-up
One of many greatest adjustments for this yr is for the Monaco Grand Prix. All 20 drivers should make two pit stops in the course of the 78-lap race across the principality.
This has been launched to doubtlessly boost the present attributable to fears that the race in Monte Carlo is an excessive amount of of a precession.
Harsher penalties for swearing
Max Verstappen
One in every of this season’s most controversial rule tweaks is harsher penalties for utilizing foul language. This is applicable to all FIA racing collection.
Rally driver Adrien Fourmaux was fined for utilizing the F-word throughout a TV interview.
Limitless gearboxes
The FIA has eliminated the restrictions on the variety of gearbox elements groups can use. It means there are not any penalties for exceeding gearbox elements.
Beforehand, drivers could be given five-place grid penalties for going exterior their “pool” of gearboxes.
Qualifying classification
After treacherous situations on the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix which threatened whether or not qualifying may even happen, the FIA have determined that if qualifying can’t happen, the grid for the race will likely be decided by the drivers’ championship standings.
This new rule applies to dash races as properly.
TPC take a look at tweak
Much less TPC (testing of earlier vehicles) is on the market to all 10 groups in 2025. Present drivers are allowed to drive simply 2,000 throughout 4 days this yr.
Groups can solely schedule a most of 20 TPC runs in 2025.
Publish-season take a look at particulars
The top-of-season Abu Dhabi take a look at has been tweaked barely to pre-empt the brand new guidelines in 2026. Groups can run ‘mule’ vehicles – modified vehicles to copy the 2026 laws.
The younger driver ingredient of the take a look at will proceed as regular.
