Race Regulations

Regulations

Engines

The Formula One engine capacity must not exceed 3000cc and the maximum number of cylinders allowed is 12. The engine must also be normally aspirated.

Only one engine may be used during the whole race weekend.

Any engine trouble on Friday or Saturday requiring the engine to be changed will result in the respective driver being moved 10 positions to the rear of the starting grid for the race.

Gearbox

Minimum four-speed transmission, maximum seven-speed. Reverse gear compulsory. Four-wheel drive cars are forbidden.

Width

The overall width of the car must not exceed 180cm.

The wings may not exceed 140cm at the front and 100cm at the rear.

Also the front wing may not exceed the front-wheel axis by more than 90cm.

Weight

The weight of the car and the driver must not be less than 600 kg.

Height

A maximum of 95cm overall- excepting rollover structures, which must be shaped to have any significant aerodynamic influence on the car's performance.

The maximum height of the rear wing is 80cm.

Tyres

All tyres must incorporate circumferential grooves around the entire tyre (parallel to the car).

Each front and back dry tyre must have four grooves. The front tyre tread must not exceed 270mm.

Drivers can have a choice of 32 dry tyres and 28 wet tyres which are different compounds. Before qualifying they must decide which type of compound tyres they are going to use. They are permitted 16 tyres only for qualifying.

Wheels

A maximum of 380mmcm in width and 660mm in diameter. The number of wheels is fixed at four.

Fuel

Refuelling is allowed and there is no limit on how much fuel is used, although it is subject to approval before an event from the FIA by submitting a sample for analysis.

No oil replenishment is allowed during a race.

As of 1999 the engine oil system breather must feed directly into the airbox to avoid oil being deposited on the track.

Race requirements

All cars must be fitted with either two cameras, two camera housings or one of each at all times throughout any event.

All cars must be fitted with a timing transponder supplied by the officially appointed timekeepers.

Driver Aids

Electronic aids such as traction control and active suspension are not allowed, nor are anti-lock power brakes, four wheel drive or supercharging the engine.

All cars must have at least two mirrors mounted so that the driver has visibility to the rear and both sides of the car.

Driver Protection and Safety

Energy absorbing rear impact structures had to be fitted for the 1997 season.

An ADR (Accident Data Recorder) is also fitted to the car to give out information on what happened to the car before and during an accident.

This will enable the FIA to make advances in driver protection.

Drivers must wear two 75mm wide shoulder straps, one abdominal strap and two straps between the legs - which should be securely fixed to the car.

All cars must be equipped with three headrest areas of specific material, thickness and position.

All cars must have two rollover structures of a specific position, thickness and are subject to passing FIA testing.

The steering wheel must be fitted with a quick release mechanism.

Its method of release must be by pulling a concentric flange installed on the steering column behind the wheel.

From a normal seating position, with all seat belts fastened, and whilst wearing his usual driving equipment, a driver must be able to remove the steering wheel and get out of the car within five seconds and then replace the steering wheel within a total of 10 seconds.

All cars must be fitted with a fire extinguishing system, which will discharge into the cockpit and into the engine compartment.

The driver must be able to cut off all the electrical circuits to the ignition, all fuel pumps and rear light by means of a spark-proof circuit breaker switch - which must be located and specifically marked on the dashboard.

As of 1999 the drivers' seat must be totally removeable and the neutral switch must be positioned and specifically marked for easier steward's access.

CHANGES FOR 2003 SEASON:

Race Weekends:

Drivers will have only one lap to determine their grid position. A session on Friday will determine the order for the Saturday session which will define grid positions for the race.

Teams will have to start the race with the same fuel load that they use in qualifying. That could lead to huge variations in grids as some smaller teams sacrifice race performance in favour of the profile afforded to the front of the grid.

The points system has been changed. The winner will still get 10 points, but drivers down to eighth place will now score points in a system that goes 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Team orders have been banned

Teams can sign up for extra running at race weekends if they agree to limit their testing to 10 days during the season.

Tyre manufacturers can now custom-make tyres for each of their teams, as opposed to only two types of tyres for all their teams.

Technical:

Since its meeting with the Formula One team principals on 15 January, the FIA has held two meetings with the teams� technical directors.

At the second of these meetings, independent electronics experts and the teams� own electronics specialists were present.

After discussion of the financial and other effects of the measures announced on 15 January (see below), the FIA informed the teams it intended to implement these measures as follows:

pit to car telemetry - eliminated with immediate effect

car to pit telemetry - eliminated from 2004 and a standard data logger introduced at the same time (immediate implementation would not save money because the limiting factor is the data acquisition system. This cannot be eliminated from a car in the short term)

radio communication between team and driver to be allowed provided (i) the system is stand-alone and cannot transmit other data and (ii) the communications are open and accessible to the FIA and broadcasters. The possibility of a standard system accessible to the public at a Grand Prix is being explored

a third car will only be used if a race car is damaged beyond repair. If a race car fails just before the start, any spare car will start from the pit lane, as will a spare car used following a race stoppage in the first two laps

cars will be held under parc ferm� conditions between qualifying and the race, but can be kept in a team�s garage under supervision. Any work other than a very restricted list will require special authorisation

traction control and automatic gearboxes will no longer be allowed from half way through the season - ie from the 2003 British Grand Prix

launch control will end at the same time provided the teams can all operate their current clutches manually;

following the meeting the FIA is satisfied that the absence of traction control, launch control and fully automatic gearboxes can be proved using a combination of new technology and extra (FIA) sensors. Software inspection remains available to the FIA as a back-up if needed. It will therefore not be necessary to introduce a standard ECU in 2004.

Spare Cars

Between 10.00 and 16.00 on the day before first practice two cars per Team will undergo initial scrutineering. No further cars will be scrutineered unless, in the opinion of the FIA Technical Delegate, one of the above two is deemed beyond repair after being damaged in an accident on the track.

Any mechanical failure on one of the two cars scrutineered which occurs prior to the end of the second qualifying session will not be considered grounds for use of a spare car.

If a car is damaged beyond repair and a spare car is used between free and qualifying practice this spare car will become the relevant driver�s race car. If the original car is subsequently repaired it will become the spare and be re-scrutineered if needed as laid out below.

The FIA Technical Delegate will normally carry out the bulk of the scrutineering checks on any spare car present between warm up and the race. If any cars are needed before the start of the race, final checks will be carried out and scrutineering stickers issued accordingly.

In order to ensure that no Team needing to use a spare car is disadvantaged as a result of any unforeseen delay in scrutineering, the stickers will not become valid, and no spare car may enter the pit lane, until the pit exit is closed for the race.

If a driver uses a spare car under these circumstances no restrictions on fuel load will be applied and, if the FIA Technical Delegate feels it is not feasible to fit the tyres used for qualifying, tyres may be changed.

If a race car is damaged in an accident which necessitated a race stoppage within the first two laps a spare car may only be used if the FIA Technical Delegate is satisfied that the original car cannot be repaired in time for the re-start.

In order that he may establish whether or not a car is damaged beyond immediate repair the scrutineering stickers already issued will be invalid from the time the race was stopped until the time at which the pit exit closes for the re-start.

In accordance with Article 156 of the Sporting Regulations any driver forced to start from the pit lane after the first start will be able to start from his original grid position at the re-start in either car.

As cars are not specifically assigned to drivers they may use either of the two cars their Team has presented for initial scrutineering. However, if a driver changes car at any time after the second qualifying practice session, he must start the race with the same amount of fuel that remained in his original car following the second qualifying session.

This will be established by weighing the car and comparing it with that taken during the second qualifying session, no variation greater than 3kg will be permitted.

Furthermore, if there is any reason to suspect that a change of car was carried out systematically, or for reasons other than mechanical failure of the original car, the Team concerned will be reported to the Stewards of the Meeting under Article 149 of the Sporting Regulations.

Screens and Covers

From the beginning of scrutineering onwards, no screen, cover or other obstruction which in any way obscures any part of a car will be allowed at any time in the garages, pit lane or grid, unless we are satisfied that any such covers are needed solely for mechanical reasons, which could, for example, include protecting against fire.

In an attempt to be clear, and in addition to the above, the following are not permitted:

engine, gearbox or radiator covers whilst engines are being changed or moved around the garage ;

covers over the spare wings when they are on a stand in the pit lane not being used ;

parts such as spare floors, fuel rigs or tool trolleys may not be used as an obstruction.

The following are permitted:

covers which are placed over damaged cars or components;

a transparent tool tray, no more than 50mm deep, placed on top of the rear wing ;

warming or heat retaining covers for the engine and gearbox on the grid ;

a rear wing cover designed specifically to protect a mechanic starting the car from fire ;

a cover over the car in the pit lane or grid if it is raining.

Qualifying:

The following procedure will be used in both qualifying sessions:

Each driver will be given 30 seconds to join the track; this will be signalled by the pit exit light turning green. The first green light will be shown at 14.00.

As each driver starts his flying lap, other than those 5th, 10th and 15th in sequence, the pit exit light will be turned green for 30 seconds for the following driver.

The pit exit light for the 6th, 11th and 16th cars in sequence will be turned green for 30 seconds when the previous car enters the pits after completing three laps. If the 5th, 10th or 15th car in sequence enters the pits before completing three laps the pit exit light for the following car will be turned green one minute later.

Any driver failing to leave the pits in the allotted 30 seconds, for any reason, will not be permitted to take any further part in that qualifying session. Under these circumstances, the green light for the next car in sequence will be turned on two minutes later.

If a car stops on its out lap, the green light for the following car will be shown when the stopped car is in a safe place. The driver waiting to go out will be given at least two minutes warning before the lights are turned green to allow him to leave the pits. The stopped driver will not be able to take any further part in that qualifying session.

If a car stops on its flying lap red flags will be displayed around the circuit and the other car on the track must enter the pits.

Under normal circumstances the pit exit light will be turned green five minutes after the signal to stop was given and the car which returned to the pits will be permitted a further attempt to qualify.

The driver who has stopped will not be permitted to take any further part in that qualifying session. Under these circumstances the car entering the pits may refuel and change tyres, five minutes will also be added to the session time.

Other than any car required to enter the pits if the session is stopped, any car returning to the pits without completing three laps will not be permitted to join the track again. Any such car will not normally be required in the weighing area or parc ferm�.

If, in the opinion of the stewards, a driver deliberately stops on the circuit or impedes another driver in any way, his qualifying time from the relevant session will be cancelled.

If one or more cars fail to record a time during the first session they will start their second qualifying session laps in first session order reversed.

If one or more cars fail to record a time during the second session they will start the race in second session order reversed.

All cars entering the pits after completing three laps will be required to stop in the weighing area for technical checks. After weighing, the scrutineers will then move the cars to the central FIA parc ferm�, the procedures thereafter are laid out below.

The FIA reserve the right to amend this qualifying procedure should it become necessary in the light of experience.

As drivers will only be permitted 30 seconds to leave the pits to complete each of their qualifying runs we will permit working in the fast lane of the pits immediately before and during both qualifying sessions.

Cars may only be taken to the pit exit five minutes before they are due to start their qualifying run and, under normal circumstances, we will expect any such work to be restricted to starting the engine and any associated last minute preparation.

For the avoidance of doubt, any car leaving the pits may pass another which is stationary in the fast lane but, all Team personnel working on a car in the fast lane must ensure that other cars are able to leave the pits unhindered.

Post-Qualifying Parc Ferm�

The following procedure will apply for the Parc Ferm�:

General:

The parc ferm� procedure has two purposes. First, to check the cars for general conformity with the Technical and Sporting Regulations and, secondly, to ensure that in each case the car which is scrutineered, qualified and raced is one and the same.

Any car which did not take part in, or complete a flying lap in the second qualifying practice session will not normally be needed in the parc ferm�.

Accordingly, the cars will be deemed to be in parc ferm� from the end of their qualifying lap on Saturday until the green lights are illuminated at the start of the formation lap (for clarity, in the event of a delayed start or a race stoppage we refer here only to the first formation lap).

Between these times Teams may carry out the following work:

cooling devices may be fitted;

bodywork may be removed and / or cleaned;

cosmetic changes may be made to the bodywork;

any part of the car may be cleaned;

any parts which are removed from the car in order to carry out any work specifically permitted below must remain close to it and, at all times, be visible to the scrutineer assigned to the relevant car ;

For safety reasons, no fuel may be added to or removed from the car between the second qualifying session and the race. This will avoid the danger that in a search for extra performance during qualifying, the car could be assembled in a manner which, while optimum for qualifying with a minimal fuel load, might be unsuitable or even dangerous at the start of the race.

Immediately after entering the pits:

All cars which complete a flying lap during the second qualifying practice session will be stopped in the weighing area, weighed and then held in the central parc ferm� until the session is finished.

The weight of the car at this time (without driver) will be used as a reference in the event of a driver using another race car and for comparison with the weight of the car immediately before the pit lane opens for the race.

Whilst the cars are being held we will allow two members from each Team (not two per car) to be in the FIA�s central parc ferm� at any one time for the purpose of:

checking tyre pressures

connecting a jump battery under the supervision of the FIA

downloading data by physical connection to the car under the supervision of the FIA

fitting water heaters

changing tyres before the car is pushed back to the Team�s garage. These, or any other tyres, may be used when the car is returned to the central parc ferm� the same evening and back to the Team�s garage on Sunday morning. The wheels and tyres used for qualifying will be marked and/or sealed by the scrutineers before being released to the Team

carrying out any work required by the FIA Technical Delegate. Once any such work has been carried out the Team personnel must leave the central parc ferm� immediately.

No other work of any kind will be permitted at this time unless deemed absolutely necessary by the FIA Technical Delegate.

Saturday afternoon:

Once the session has finished, and all preliminary checks have been carried out by the FIA, the cars held in the central parc ferm� will be released simultaneously and Teams will be permitted to push them back to their garages. Cars will remain under parc ferm� conditions throughout. From this point, and until 18.00, Teams will be permitted to carry out the following work under supervision of the scrutineers : � wheels may be removed ;

removal of any parts genuinely necessary to carry out essential safety checks ;

engines may be started (an external fuel pressurising system may be used if necessary) ;

with the exception of fuel, fluids with a specific gravity less than 1.1 may be drained ;

compressed gases may be drained ;

heating devices may be fitted ;

on board electrical units may be freely accessed via a physical connection to the car;

No other work will be permitted during this time unless the FIA Technical Delegate is satisfied that it is absolutely necessary and has specifically authorised it.

At some time before 18.00 each Team must take any car which completed a flying lap in the second qualifying practice back to the central parc ferm�, with all parts used for qualifying re-fitted (other than wheels and tyres, which if they are not fitted to the car, must be taken separately), where they will remain secure until the following day.

Whilst cars are in the central parc ferm� they may be covered and fitted with devices to keep them warm, no Team personnel will be permitted there unless specifically authorised by the FIA Technical Delegate.

Sunday: At 08.00 on the day of the race, or earlier if the relevant Event timetable makes this necessary, Teams will be permitted to take their cars back to their garages where, again, they will remain under parc ferm� conditions until the green lights are illuminated at the start of the formation lap. Only the following work on the cars will be permitted during this time :

repair of bona fide accident damage

wheels and tyres may be removed, rebalanced, tyre pressures adjusted and tyre heating devices fitted

during all reconnaissance laps every car must be fitted with the same wheels and tyres as the driver used for his qualifying lap, the race must also be started with these same wheels and tyres.

If one or more tyres are damaged, and are deemed unusable by the FIA Technical Delegate, they may be replaced by other tyres which have been used for a greater number of laps than the damaged ones.

with the exception of fuel, fluids with a specific gravity less than 1.1 may be drained and / or replenished, however, no replenishment may take place less than one hour before the pit lane opens for the race. In order to ensure that fluids are not being used as

ballast, and that the car is therefore being raced as it was qualified, the FIA reserves the right to weigh cars at random during the hour preceding the opening of the pit lane. When a car is weighed in this way its weight must be within 3kg of its weight at the completion of its qualifying lap ;

draining and / or addition of compressed gases

on board electrical units may be freely accessed via a physical connection to the car ;

engines may be started (an external fuel pressurising system may be used if necessary) ;

the main electrical battery may be changed and a jump battery connected ;

if the second qualifying practice is held in wet conditions, and warm up or race is dry (or vice versa), tyres may be changed and changes may be made to brake cooling ducts ;

if the FIA technical delegate is satisfied that changes in climatic conditions necessitate alterations to the specification of a car these may be carried out but only with his explicit approval.

Any work not listed above may only be undertaken with the approval of the FIA Technical Delegate following a written request from the Team concerned.

It must be clear that any replacement part a Team wishes to fit is similar in mass, inertia and function to the original. After the work has been carried out the car must be submitted for re-scrutineering. Any parts removed will be retained by the FIA.

One scrutineer will be allocated to each car for the purpose of ensuring that no unauthorised work is carried out whilst cars are being held under parc ferm� conditions.

If any such unauthorised work is carried out a report will be made to the Stewards of the Meeting.

A list of additional work carried out with the specific agreement of the FIA Technical Delegate will be published prior to the race.

Finally, if deemed necessary for safety reasons by the FIA Technical Delegate, changes to the set up of the suspension may be made in order to rectify any serious problem which may have been encountered during the qualifying session.

However, any such changes may only be made in the pit lane during the fifteen minute period prior to the start of the first formation lap and under the supervision of the scrutineers.

Suspension and aerodynamic devices:

In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the suspension systems or aerodynamic configuration of the car whilst in post-qualifying parc ferm�, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without the use of tools.