My Proposal – Sporting Regulations – All Along The Racetrack

ARTICLE 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Formula One World Championship
1. The Formula One World Title is organized by the FIA, which is the custodian and enforcer of rules.
  The titles, one for drivers and one for constructors, are owned and managed by the Parliament of constructors and suppliers participating (called “The Formula One Organization”).
  The Formula One Continental Series are also organized by the FIA, for which it controls respect and compliance with the rules.
  Each local Continental Series rights are property of the parliament of constructors and suppliers participating to it (called with the name of the regional area, i.e. “The Formula One African Organization”).
  The Formula One organizations don’t have owners, CEO or representatives; they are assemblies of all participants to that series, where each constructor and supplier has equal power to vote, regardless of the number of cars they are manufacturing or supplying.
1. All the participating parties will observe the rules governing the Series.
2. All Championships and each of its Competitions are governed by rules included in these documents.
3. In the sense of the Regulations, terms referring to natural persons are applicable to any gender.
Regulatory Framework
1. The regulations applicable to the Championship are the International Sporting Code (the “Code”), the Formula One Technical Regulations (the “Technical Regulations”), the Formula One Sporting Regulations (the “Sporting Regulations”), the Formula One Financial Regulations (the “Financial Regulations”) and any other regulations applicable to the Championship as issued by the FIA from time to time, together referred to as the “Regulations”.
2. The Sporting and Financial Regulations are agreed by majority (51%) within each parliament in the World or Continental Series, with no interference of the FIA.
  Any changes have to be approved by 51% of the assembly affected.
General Undertakings
1. All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship undertake, on behalf of themselves, their employees, agents and suppliers, to observe all the provisions (including supplemented or amended) of the Regulations.
2. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure that all persons concerned by his entry observe all the requirements of the Regulations. If a competitor is unable to be present in person at the Competition, he must nominate his representative in writing. The person having charge of an entered car during any part of a Competition is responsible jointly and severally with the competitor for ensuring that the requirements are observed.
3. Competitors must ensure that their cars comply with the conditions of eligibility and safety throughout practice and the race.

ARTICLE 2: DEFINITIONS

Constructor
A constructor is the person (including any corporate or unincorporated body) which holds the intellectual property of the Listed Team Components (LTC) as defined in Article 17 of the Technical Regulations. The make of an engine or chassis is the name attributed to it by its constructor.
The obligation to design and use Listed Components shall not prevent a constructor from outsourcing the design and/or manufacture of any Listed Components to a third party in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 of the Technical Regulations.
If the make of the chassis is not the same as that of the engine, the title will be awarded to the former which shall always precede the latter in the name of the car.
For the Continental Series the name of the Constructor is decided by the owner(s) of the Constructor and could be different from the names of the suppliers, if also the chassis is purchased. Also in this case the title will be awarded to the former which shall always precede the latter in the name of the car.
It can also be referred to as “Team” or “Competitor”.
Championship Competition
Any Competition entered into the FIA F1 Championship Calendar for any year commencing two hours before FP1 is scheduled to take place and including all practice and the race itself and ending at the later of the time for the lodging of a protest under the terms of the International Sporting Code or the time when a technical or sporting verification has been carried out under the terms of the International Sporting Code, whichever is the later.
Automobile Make
In the case of Formula racing cars, an automobile make is a complete car. When the car manufacturer fits an engine which it does not manufacture, the car name shall be the combination of the car manufacturer’s name and the engine manufacture’s name, with the former always preceding the latter. Should such a car win a Championship Title, Cup or Trophy, this will be awarded to the manufacturer of the car.
The above rules are valid for the World Title Competitors and all the Continental Series competitors.

ARTICLE 3: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND COMPETITIONS

Championship Competitions
1. Competitions are reserved for Formula One cars as defined in the Technical Regulations.
2. Competitions part of the Formula One World Title will be attended by constructors, suppliers and drivers registered for the World Title.
  Competitions of each Continental Series, will be attended by those registered for each of them.
3. The distance of all races, from the start signal to the end-of-race signal as specified later, shall be at least equal to the number of complete laps to reach the minimum distance of 250km.
  The race should also be completed within 2 hours, where the two hours represent only the racing time. In the event of a red flag or any other suspension the length of the suspension will be added to the race time up to a maximum of six hours.
  After that, the leader will be shown the end-of-race signal when he crosses the control line at the end of the lap following the lap during which the two hours (or six hours) period ended.
4. The Formula One World Title will be made of 40 Competitions.
  The Continental Series will have the following number of Competitions:
  1. Africa32
  2. Asia 27
  3. Caribbean 13
  4. Europe 36
  5. Middle East 17
  6. North America 20
  7. Oceania 17
  8. South America 21
5. The Calendars of each Series are shown in the Appendix at these links
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/18/formula-one-african-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/formula-one-asian-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/20/formula-one-caribbean-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/21/formula-one-european-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/22/formula-one-middle-east-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/formula-one-north-america-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/24/formula-one-oceania-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/25/formula-one-south-america-continental-title/
  https://allalongtheracetrack.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/formula-one-world-title/
  Countries have designated spots and eligible circuits, approved for Formula 1 races, are registered in the Circuit Database.
  The number of spots each countries has in Continental Series is calculated through the weighted average of the amount of approved circuits available the country as follows:
  Africa: 1 race for each country, 2 for those with number of circuits >4
  Asia: 1 race for each country, 2 for those with number of circuits >4
  Caribbean: 1 race for each country, 2 for those with number of circuits >4
  Europe: 2 races in countries with >5 tracks; 1 race if between 2 and 4; 1 race every two year if only 1 track available, rotating with other countries with 1 track.
  Middle East: 1 race for each country, 2 for those with number of circuits >4
  North America: 12 races in the USA (4 East, 4 Central, 4 West), 4 in Canada, 3 in Mexico, 1 in Greenland.
  Oceania: 1 race in each track.
  South America: 1 race for each country, 3 for those with number of circuits >4.
  
  The number of spots for each continent in the World Series is the weighted average of the total amount of circuits in the Continent versus the total.
  Within the Continent calendar spots, some countries may have fixed slots due to their motorsport historical value and/or number of circuits.
  When the number of circuits available for one country is bigger than the number of spots, they should be rotated so each of them host one race before any other has hosted the second one.
  The maximum number of circuits for each country is 8, exception made for the United States of America who will have 8 for each Time Zone (East, Central, West).
  Different layouts or variants of the same circuit may also be submitted.
  Should a new country submit interest in hosting F1 and/or a new circuit be designed and created, the calendars and list of circuits included in the Circuit Database could be changed.
  
  The allocation of a nation within a continent and therefore a Continental Series is based only on the geographical location; it is in no way a political nor a social statement.
6. A Competition may be cancelled if fewer than 12 cars are available for it.
World Championship
1. The Formula One World Championship driver’s title will be awarded to the driver who has scored the highest number of points, taking into consideration all the results obtained during the Competitions which have actually taken place.
2. The title of Formula One World Champion Constructor will be awarded to the competitor which has scored the highest number of points.
3. Points for both titles will be awarded at each Competition according to the following scale:
  1st              :            25 points
  2nd             :            18 points
  3rd              :            14 points
  4th              :            11 points
  5th              :              9 points
  6th              :              7 points
  7th              :              5 points
  8th              :              3 points
  9th              :              2 points
  10th            :               1 point
  In addition to the above, one point will be awarded to the driver who achieved the fastest valid lap time of the race and to the constructor whose car he was driving.
4. If a race is suspended as described in articles below, and cannot be resumed, no points will be awarded if the leader has completed 25% of the original race distance or less, half points will be awarded if the leader has completed more than 25% but less than 75% of the original race distance and full points will be awarded if the leader has completed 75% or more of the original race distance.
5. Prizes and points awarded for all the positions of competitors who tie, will be added together and shared equally.
6. If two or more constructors or drivers finish the season with the same number of points, the higher place in the Championship (in either case) shall be awarded to:
  1. The holder of the greatest number of first places.
  2. If the number of first places is the same, the holder of the greatest number podiums.
  3. If this procedure fails to produce a result, the number of pole positions and fastest laps is also considered.
  4. If all these criteria still determine a tie, the two or more drivers/constructors will be declared ex aequo World Champions.
7. The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony.
Licences
1. All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship must hold a FIA Super Licence.
2. With the exception of a reprimand or fine, when a penalty is applied under the International Sporting Code, the stewards may impose penalty points on a driver’s Super Licence. If a driver accrues 12 penalty points his licence will be suspended for the following Competition, following which 12 points will be removed from the licence.
  Penalty points will remain on a driver’s Super Licence for a period of 12 months after which they will be respectively removed on the 12 month anniversary of their imposition.
Competitors’ Applications and Entry Fees
1. Applications to compete in the Championship may be submitted to the FIA by October 31^st of the year before the season the competitor wish to enter.
  For the Caribbean Continental and the Middle East Continental Series, due to the starting date, applications must be submitted by June 30^th.
2. The entry fees for the competitor are set as follows:
  1. 8% of the previous year’s money prize obtained depending on the final classification in the constructor championship.
  2. In the event of a new constructor joining the standard entry fee is: 2 millions $ for F1 World Title, 500.000$ for each Continental series.
3. In any case it should be paid as part of the application, within the above dates.
4. Applications shall include:
  1. Confirmation that the applicant has read and understood the Regulations and agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of everyone associated with its participation in the Championship, to observe them.
  2. The name of the team.
  3. The make of the competing car.
  4. The make of the engine.
  5. The names of the driver or drivers.
  6. An undertaking by the applicant to participate in every Competition with the number of cars and drivers entered.
5. A competitor may change the make of engine at any time during the Championship. All points scored with an engine of different make to that which was first entered in the Championship will count for the FIA Formula One Constructors Championship.
  As per Technical Regulations, a constructor of both car and engine can’t sell its engines to other competitors in the same series.
6. All applications will be studied by the FIA and accepted or rejected at its absolute discretion. The FIA will publish the list of cars and drivers accepted together with their race numbers by November 31^st (July 31^st for the Caribbean and Middle East Continental Series) of the year prior to the year to which the applications relate.
7. There is no maximum number of cars admitted to the Championship.
8. Each competitor may register 1 or 2 cars.
  If only 1 car is registered, only the points scored by it will count for the Constructor Championship, otherwise it will be the sum of the two cars.
9. For the Formula One Continental Series, the constructor must be a registered in one of the countries included in that Continent (even if that country doesn’t have a circuit included in the Circuit Database) and register drivers coming from the same Continent.
10. If in the opinion of the F1 Commission a competitor fails to operate his team in a manner compatible with the standards of the Championship or in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith.
Promotion and Organisation of a Competition
1. Countries have secured spots in the Continental and/or World Title Series; they need to ensure that they have enough circuits ready for the following season to organize as many Grand Prix as requested by the different calendars.
  Proof requested are:
  1. FIA Safety Grade-1 certification
  2. Confirmation of staff and resources availability for hospitality, event organization
  3. Circuit is free from the week before to 3 days after the F1 GP
  4. Ticket Sale planned
2. The promoter of a Competition must procure that all competitors, their personnel and drivers are covered by third party insurance in accordance with the FIA requirements.
3. Third party insurance arranged by the promoter shall be in addition and without prejudice to any personal insurance policy held by a competitor or any other participant in the Competition.
4. Drivers taking part in the Competition are not third parties with respect to one another.
FIA Delegates
1. For each Competition the FIA will nominate the following delegates:
  1. Safety delegate.
  2. Medical delegate.
  3. Technical delegate.
  4. Media delegate.
    And may nominate:
  5. A representative of the President of the FIA.
  6. A deputy race director.
  7. A safety car driver and an observer.
  8. A medical car driver.
2. The role of the FIA delegates is to help the officials of the Competition in their duties, to see within their fields of competence that all the regulations governing the Championship are respected, to make any comments they judge necessary and to draw up any necessary reports concerning the Competition.
3. The technical delegate nominated by the FIA is responsible for scrutineering. In this respect he may carry out, or have carried out by scrutineers, at his discretion, any checks to verify the compliance of the cars entered in the Competition, at any time until the end of the Competition, without prior request from the stewards or clerk of the course.
  The FIA technical delegate has full authority over the national scrutineers.
Officials
1. For each competition the FIA will nominate:
  1. Three stewards one of whom will be appointed chairman.
    Two stewards must be representatives of the local administration; the third one, who is also the chairman, is nominated among a panel of ex-drivers in order to provide as much uniformity as possible when it comes to decision making.
  2. A race director.
  3. A permanent starter.
  4. The clerk of the course.
2. The clerk of the course shall work in permanent consultation with the race director. The race director shall have overriding authority in the following matters and the clerk of the course may give orders in respect of them only with his express agreement:
  1. The control of practice and the race, adherence to the timetable and, if he deems it necessary, the making of any proposal to the stewards to modify the timetable in accordance with the International Sporting Code or Sporting Regulations.
  2. The stopping of any car in accordance with the International Sporting Code or Sporting Regulations.
  3. The stopping of practice or suspension of the race in accordance with the Sporting Regulations if he deems it unsafe to continue and ensuring that the correct restart procedure is carried out.
  4. The starting procedure.
  5. The use of the Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car procedures as per articles below.
3. The stewards, the race director, the clerk of the course and the technical delegate must be present at the start of the Competition.
4. The race director must be in radio contact with the clerk of the course and the chairman of the stewards at all times when cars are permitted to run on the track. Additionally, the clerk of the course must be in race control and in radio contact with all marshal’s posts during these times.
5. The stewards may use any video or electronic means to assist them in reaching a decision.
Instructions and Communications to Competitors
1. The stewards or race director may give instructions to competitors by means of special circulars in accordance with the International Sporting Code. These circulars will be distributed to all competitors via the FIA document and messaging system.
2. All classifications and results of practice and the race, as well as all decisions issued by the officials, will be published via the FIA document and messaging system.
3. Any decision or communication concerning a particular competitor should be given to him within twenty five minutes of such decision via the FIA document and messaging system.
Protests and Appeals
Protests and appeals shall be made in accordance with the International Sporting Code and accompanied by a fee of €2000.
Sanctions
1. The stewards may inflict the penalties specifically set out in the Sporting Regulations in addition to or instead of any other penalties available to them under the International Sporting Code.
2. Any driver who receives three reprimands in the span of ten races within a Championship season will, upon the imposition of the third, be given a ten grid place penalty at that Competition. If the third reprimand is imposed following an Incident during a race the ten grid place penalty will be applied at the driver’s next Competition.
  The ten grid place penalty will only be imposed if at least two of the reprimands were imposed for a driving infringement.
Changes of Driver
1. There are no limits in the number of drivers a constructor employ during a season. Changes may be made at any time before the start of the qualifying practice session provided any change proposed after the end of initial scrutineering receives the consent of the stewards.
  Any new driver may score points in the Championship.
2. In addition to the above each team will be permitted to run additional drivers during FP1 provided that:
  1. The stewards are informed which cars and drivers each team intends to use in each session no less than 1 day before the scheduled start of FP1, changes after this time may only be made with the consent of the stewards.
  2. They carry the race number that has been allocated to them.
  3. They are in possession of a Super Licence or Friday Super Licence.
Passes
1. All persons concerned in any way with an entered car or present in any other capacity whatsoever in the paddock, pit lane, or track must wear an appropriate pass at all times.
2. No pass may be issued or used other than with the agreement of the FIA. A pass may be used only by the person and for the purpose for which it was issued.

ARTICLE 4: SESSIONS AND TRACK RUNNING DURING A COMPETITION

General Requirements
1. Official instructions will be given to drivers by means of the signals laid out in the International Sporting Code. Competitors must not use flags or lights similar to these.
2. Save where the Sporting Regulations require otherwise, pit lane and track discipline and safety measures will be the same for all practice sessions as for the race.
3. Other than by driving on the track, Competitors are not permitted to attempt to alter the grip of any part of the track surface.
4. If a car stops on the track it shall be the duty of the marshals to remove it as quickly as possible so that its presence does not constitute a danger or hinder other competitors. Under no circumstances may a driver stop his car on the track without justifiable reason.
5. A driver who abandons a car must leave it in neutral or with the clutch disengaged, with any electric systems shut down and with the steering wheel in place.
6. Save as specifically authorised by the International Sporting Code or the Sporting Regulations, no one except the driver may touch a stopped car unless it is in the paddock, the team’s designated garage area, the pit lane or on the starting grid.
7. Teams are allowed to modify and/or perform works on the car until ten minutes before the start of the race.
  If any operations need to be completed after this deadline, the car will have to start from the pit lane.
8. During a race, the engine may only be started with the starter except in the pit lane or the team’s designated garage area where the use of an external starting device is allowed.
9. Drivers taking part in practice and the race must always wear the clothes, helmets and head and neck supports specified in the International Sporting Code.
10. A speed limit of 80km/h will be imposed in the pit lane during the whole Competition. However, this limit may be amended by the FIA F1 safety delegate at any time during a Competition.
  Any team whose driver exceeds the limit during any practice session will be fined €100 for each km/h above the limit.
  However, the stewards may inflict an additional penalty if they suspect a driver was speeding in order to gain any sort of advantage.
  During the race the stewards may impose penalties as per below articles.
11. If a driver has serious mechanical difficulties he must leave the track as soon as it is safe to do so.
12. The lights described in Article 14 of the Technical Regulations must be illuminated at all times when using intermediate or wet-weather tyres. It shall be at the discretion of the race director to decide whether or not a driver should be stopped if no rear light is working. Should a car be stopped in this way the driver may re-join when the fault has been remedied.
Driving
1. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
2. Drivers must observe the provisions of the International Sporting Code relating to driving behaviour on circuits at all times.
3. Drivers must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not deliberately leave the track without a justifiable reason.
  Drivers will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with it and.
  The track white line is considered the track limit and part of it.
  Should a car leave the track the driver may re-join, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any lasting advantage. At the absolute discretion of the race director a driver may be given the opportunity to give back the whole of any advantage he gained by leaving the track.
4. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person.
Pit Entry, Pit Lane and Pit Exit
1. The section of track between the first safety car line and the beginning of the pit lane will be designated the “pit entry”.
2. The section of track between the end of the pit lane and the second safety car line will be designated the “pit exit”.
3. At no time may a car be reversed in the pit lane under its own power.
4. The pit lane will be divided into two lanes, the lane closest to the pit wall will be designated the “fast lane”, the lane closest to the garages will be designated the “inner lane”.
  The inner lane is the only area where any work can be carried out on a car.
5. The FIA will allocate garages and an area in the pit lane on a strictly equal basis where each team may work and, within each of these designated garage areas, one position where pit stops during both practice and the race may be carried out.
6. Cars can be lifted in the pit lane during a race with any suitable tool, even powered, as long as deemed safe by the FIA safety delegate.
7. Unless a car is pushed from the grid at any time during the start procedure, cars may only be driven from the team’s designated garage area to the end of the pit lane.
  Any car(s) driven to the end of the pit lane prior to the start or re-start of a practice session must form up in a line in the fast lane and leave in the order they got there unless another car is unduly delayed.
8. With the exception of the reconnaissance laps permitted by these regulations in the following articles, any driver that is required to start the race from the pit lane may not drive his car from his team’s designated garage area until 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap and must stop in a line in the fast lane.
  Under these circumstances working in the fast lane will be permitted but any such work is restricted to:
  1. Starting the engine and any directly associated preparation.
  2. The fitting or removal of permitted cooling and heating devices.
  3. Changes made for driver comfort.
  4. Changing wheels and tyres.
9. Other than by drying or sweeping, or by laying tyre rubber when cars leave their pit stop position, competitors may not attempt to enhance the grip of the surface in the pit lane.
10. Competitors must not paint lines on any part of the pit lane.
11. Other than under point 8 above, no equipment may be left in the fast lane.
12. Team personnel are only allowed in the pit lane immediately before they are required to work on a car and must withdraw as soon as the work is complete.
  All team personnel carrying out any work on a car in the pit lane when the car is in its pit stop position during the qualifying practice session, or during a race pit stop, must be wearing helmets which meet or exceed the requirements of ECE 22.05 – European motorcycle road helmet, DOT – USA motorcycle road helmet or JIS T8133-2015, class 2 – JPN protective helmets for motor vehicle users. The use of appropriate eye protection is compulsory.
13. When releasing the car from a pit stop the following conditions must apply:
  1. Cars must not be released from a garage or pit stop position in way that could endanger pit lane personnel or another driver.
    Competitors must provide a means of clearly establishing, when being viewed from both above and in the front of the car, when a car was released.
  2. If a car is deemed to have been released in an unsafe condition during any practice session or a race, a fine may be imposed upon the team; no penalty to the driver.
  3. An additional penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, continues to drive a car knowing it to have been released in an unsafe condition.
  4. In all of the above cases, a car will be deemed to have been released either when it has been driven out of its designated garage area (when leaving from the garage) or after it has completely cleared its pit stop position following a pit stop.
14. Under exceptional circumstances the race director may ask for the pit entry to be closed during the race for safety reasons. At such times drivers may only enter the pit lane in order for essential and entirely evident repairs to be carried out to the car. A penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, entered the pit lane for any other reason whilst it was closed.
15. Pit stops are not allowed during the race for refueling or changing tyres (as explained in the Technical Regulations) unless:
  1. Tyre change is required due to weather conditions (i.e. from dry to wet or intermediate or viceversa).
  2. Any intervention to repair the car, following a collision with other drivers or objects in/around the track.
  3. Replacement of any item, including tyres, for safety reasons (i.e. severe flat spot or signals of punctures/deflation)
Practice Sessions
1. No driver may start in the race without taking part in at least one practice session.
2. During all practices there will be a green and a red light at the end of the pit lane. Cars may only leave the pit lane when the green light is on. Additionally, a blue flag and/or a flashing blue light will be shown in the pit exit to warn drivers leaving the pit lane if cars are approaching on the track.
3. Unless written permission has been given by the FIA to do otherwise, the circuit may only be used for purposes other than the Competition after the last practice session on each day of practice and on the day of the race no less than one hour before the end of the pit lane is opened to allow cars to cover a reconnaissance lap.
4. In the event of a driving infringement during any practice session the Stewards may delete a driver’s lap time (or lap times) or drop the driver such number of grid positions as they consider appropriate. Unless it is completely clear that a driver committed a driving infringement any such incident will normally be investigated after the relevant session.
5. Any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, stops unnecessarily on the circuit or unnecessarily impedes another driver shall be subject to the penalties referred to in point 4 above.
6. Should it become necessary to stop any practice session because the circuit is blocked by an accident or because weather or other conditions make it dangerous to continue, the clerk of the course will order red flags to be shown at all marshal posts and the abort lights to be shown at the Line.
  When the signal is given to stop all cars must immediately reduce speed and proceed slowly back to the pit lane.
  All cars abandoned on the track will be removed to a safe place.
  At the end of each practice session no driver may cross the Line more than once.
7. The clerk of the course may interrupt practice as often and for as long as he thinks necessary to clear the track or to allow the recovery of a car. However, only during qualifying practice will the session be extended as a result.
  Should one or more sessions be thus interrupted, no protest can be accepted as to the possible effects of the interruption on the qualification of drivers admitted to start.
Free Practice
One Free Practice Session, named FP1, lasting one and a half hours, will take place on the Saturday morning.
Timing may vary depending on the location to allow best TV broadcasting over the world.
The FP1 should end at least 2 hours before the Qualifying Practice.
Qualifying Practice
1. The qualifying practice session will take place on the day before the race, Saturday Afternoon.
  Organizers may require to run the qualifying session on night time, which may be approved by the FIA as long as the circuit can provide safe conditions to do so.
2. The session will be run as follows:
  1. 30 minutes of Qualifying session Q1, with all drivers on the track, with no limitations of the number of laps.
    At the end of Q1, the 10 fastest drivers will access to Q2.
    When the number of entries in a Competition is bigger than the maximum amount of F1 cars allowed to race in the circuit (i.e. due to circuit length), drivers classified at the bottom of the standing will be considered not qualified for the race until the number of qualified drivers equal the maximum amount of cars allowed in that venue.
    Any driver penalties will be applied after the exclusion, meaning that the exclusions will be applied based on lap times only (i.e. if a driver is qualified, his penalty will not relegate him to a non-qualifying position).
    Positions 11 to last will be confirmed at the end of Q1 (pending any driver penalty).
  2. After a ten minute break the session will resume for fifteen minutes (Q2) with only the ten fastest drivers admitted. No limitations on the number of laps for each driver.
    At the end of this session the 5 fastest cars will proceed to Q3.
    Positions 6 to 10 are confirmed at the end of Q2 (pending any driver penalty).
  3. After a ten minute break, the top 5 drivers will compete in Q3, where they will have 1 lap each, one at a time, starting from the fifth classified in Q2 to the first.
    The 5 lap times recorded will define position 1 to 5 of the starting grid of the upcoming race.
    The fastest lap time is declared holder of the “pole position”.
  4. Any driver whose car stops on the circuit during the qualifying session will not be permitted to take any further part in the session.
  5. At the end of qualifying practice the times achieved by each driver will be officially published.
  6. In this session, Qualifying tyres will be used, with no limitations in number.
Warm-up
1. On the day of the race, in the morning (Sunday morning), a 30 minute session with all drivers qualified for the upcoming race will be held to test the race set-ups, including race tyres.
2. Classification of the Warm-up session will not affect the qualifying one.
3. If a driver damages his car at the point that it can’t be repaired in time for the race he will be excluded from the race.
4. The warm-up needs to end at least four hours before the race green light.
The Grid
1. On top of drivers who may be excluded to comply with the track limitations in terms of number of cars as per above article, unless the track was declared wet by the race director, any driver eliminated during Q1 whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% of the fastest time set during that session, or who fails to set a time, will not be allowed to take part in the race. Under exceptional circumstances however, which may include setting a suitable lap time in the free practice session, the stewards may permit the car to start the race.
  Any driver accepted in this manner will be placed at the back of the starting grid after any other penalties have been applied, and behind any driver penalized.
  Should there be more than one driver accepted in this manner they will be arranged on the grid in the order they were classified in FP1.
2. The grid will be drawn up as follows:
  1. Positions 1 to 5 to the cars qualified to Q3.
  2. Positions 6 to 10 to the one participating in Q2.
  3. Positions 11 to last to the classification on Q1.
  4. If two or more drivers set identical times during Q1, Q2 priority will be given to the one who set it first.
    If that occurs in Q3, the driver qualified better in Q2 will be given priority.
  5. If more than one driver fails to set a time during Q2 or Q3 they will be arranged in the following order:
    1. Any driver who attempted to set a qualifying time by starting a flying lap.
    2. Any driver who failed to start a flying lap.
    3. Any driver who failed to leave the pits during the period.
  6. Once the grid has been established in accordance with above, grid position penalties will be applied to the drivers in question in the order the offences were committed.
3. The starting grid will be published no less than four hours before the start of the formation lap. Any competitor whose car(s) is (are) unable to start for any reason whatsoever (or who has good reason to believe that their car(s) will not be ready to start) must inform the stewards accordingly at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, no later than one hour and fifteen minutes before the start of the formation lap. If one or more cars are withdrawn the grid will be closed up accordingly. The final starting grid will be published one hour before the start of the formation lap.
4. The grid will be in a staggered 1 x 1 formation and the rows on the grid will be separated by 16 metres.
Starting Procedure
1. 30 minutes before the start of the formation lap the pit exit will be opened and all cars, including any that are required to start the race from the pit lane, will be permitted to leave the pit lane to cover a maximum of 3 reconnaissance laps. Should any driver wish to cover more than one reconnaissance lap, this must be done by driving down the pit lane at greatly reduced speed between each of the laps. If a driver stops in his pit between reconnaissance laps the car may only re-join the track by being driven from the driver’s garage and not from his pit stop position.
  At the end of these laps all cars starting the race from the grid should stop on the grid in starting order with their engines stopped.
  All drivers going to the pit exit at this time must do so at a constant speed and with constant throttle. This applies over the whole of the pit lane whether a driver is going to the pit exit from his garage or travelling through the pit lane between reconnaissance laps.
  Any car which does not complete a reconnaissance lap and reach the grid under its own power will not be permitted to start the race from the grid.
2. 22 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap, a warning signal will be given indicating that the end of the pit lane will be closed in two minutes.
  20 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap the end of the pit lane will be closed and a second warning signal will be given. Any car which is still in the pit lane can start from the end of the pit lane provided it got there under its own power. If more than one car is affected they must line up in the order in which they qualified. However, any car reaching the end of the pit lane after the five minute signal must start behind any car already at the pit exit.
  All such cars may then join the race once the whole field has passed the end of the pit lane for the first time after the start.
3. The approach of the start will be announced by signals shown ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes, two minutes before the start of the formation lap, each of which will be accompanied by an audible warning.
  When the ten minute signal is shown, everybody except drivers, officials and team technical staff must leave the grid.
4. When the three minute signal is shown all cars on the grid must have their wheels fitted, after this signal wheels may only be removed in the pit lane.
  A penalty will be imposed on any driver whose car did not have all its wheels fully fitted at the three minute signal.
5. When the two minutes signal is shown, engines should be started and all team personnel must leave the grid in maximum 30 seconds.
  If any team personnel or team equipment remain on the grid after the 30 second signal has been shown the driver of the car concerned must start the race from the pit lane.
  Penalties to the team may be applied.
  If any driver needs assistance after the 30 second signal he must raise his arm and, when the remainder of the cars able to do so have left the grid, marshals will be instructed to push the car into the pit lane.
  In either of the above cases, marshals with yellow flags will stand beside any car (or cars) concerned to warn drivers behind.
6. When the green lights are illuminated, all cars on the grid should begin the formation lap with the pole position driver leading.
  When leaving the grid all drivers must respect the pit lane speed limit until they pass pole position.
  Marshals will be instructed to push any car (or cars) which remain on the grid into the pit lane by the fastest route immediately after cars able to do so have left the grid. Any driver being pushed from the grid may not attempt to start the car and must follow the instructions of the marshals.
7. During the formation lap practice starts are forbidden and the formation must be kept as tight as possible.
8. Overtaking during the formation lap is only permitted if a car is delayed and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field. In this case, drivers may only overtake to re-establish the original starting order. Any driver delayed in this way, and who is unable to re-establish the original starting order before he reaches the first safety car line, must enter the pit lane and start from the end of the pit lane.
  A penalty will be imposed on any driver who fails to enter the pit lane if he has not re-established the original starting order before he reaches the first safety car line.
9. When the cars come back to the grid at the end of the formation lap, they must stop within their respective starting grid positions, keeping their engines running.
  There will be a standing start, the signal being given by means of lights activated by the permanent starter.
  Once all the cars have come to a halt the five second light will appear followed by the four, three, two and one second lights. At any time after the one-second light appears, the race will be started by extinguishing all red lights.
  If, after the start, a car is immobilised on the starting grid marshals alongside the grid will wave their yellow flags to inform the drivers that a car is stationary on the grid. It shall be the duty of the marshals to push it into the pit lane by the fastest route. Any driver being pushed from the grid may not attempt to start the car.
  Once the car is in the pit lane his mechanics may attempt to start it, if successful the driver may rejoin the race. The driver and mechanics must follow the instructions of the track marshals at all times during such a procedure.
10. If, after returning to the starting grid at the end of the formation lap a problem arises, the following procedures shall apply:
  1. If a car develops a problem that could endanger the start the driver must immediately raise his hands above his head and the marshal responsible for that row must immediately wave a yellow flag. If the race director decides the start should be aborted the green lights will be illuminated two seconds after the abort lights are switched on, a board saying “EXTRA FORMATION LAP” will be displayed and all cars able to do so must complete a further formation lap whilst the car which developed the problem is moved into the pit lane.
    When leaving the grid to complete the extra formation lap all drivers must respect the pit lane speed limit until they pass pole position.
    The team may then attempt to rectify the problem and, if successful, the car may then start from the end of the pit lane. Should there be more than one car involved their starting order will be determined by the order in which they reached the end of the pit lane.
    Every time this happens the race will be shortened by one lap.
    If the race has been started the marshals alongside the grid will wave their yellow flags to inform the drivers that a car is stationary on the grid.
11. Should the Article above apply, the race will nevertheless count for the Championship no matter how often the procedure is repeated, or how much the race is shortened as a result.
12. Either of the penalties under article below will be imposed on any driver who is judged to have:
  1. Moved before the start signal is given, such judgement being made by an FIA approved and supplied transponder fitted to each car, or
  2. Positioned his car on the starting grid in such a way that the transponder is unable to detect the moment at which the car first moved from its grid position after the start signal is given.
13. Only in the following cases will any variation in the start procedure be allowed:
  If it starts to rain after the five minute signal but before the race is started and, in the opinion of the race director teams should be given the opportunity to change tyres, the abort lights will be shown on the Line and the starting procedure will begin again at the ten minute point.
  When the green lights are illuminated the safety car will leave the grid and all drivers must follow in grid order, no more than ten car lengths apart, and must respect the pit lane speed limit until they pass pole position. The safety car will continue until conditions are considered suitable for racing.
  Any cars that were starting the race from the pit lane may join the formation lap once the whole field has passed the end of the pit lane for the first time. Any such cars may complete all formation laps but must enter the pit lane after the safety car returns to the pits and start the race from the end of the pit lane in the order they get there.
  Any other car entering the pit lane during the formation laps may re-join the track but must enter the pit lane after the safety car returns to the pits and start the race from the end of the pit lane in the order they get there.
  Overtaking during the lap(s) behind the safety car is only permitted under the following circumstances:
  1. If a car is delayed when leaving the grid and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field, or
  2. If there is more than one car starting from the pit lane and one of them is unduly delayed.
    In either case drivers may only overtake to re-establish the original starting order or the order the cars at the pit exit were in when the formation lap was started.
    Any driver delayed in either way, and who is unable to re-establish the original starting order before he reaches the first safety car line on the lap the safety car returns to the pits, must enter the pit lane and may only join the race once the whole field has passed the end of the pit lane after the start of the race.
    A penalty will be imposed on any driver who fails to enter the pit lane if he has not re-established the original starting order before he reaches the first safety car line on the lap the safety car returns to the pits.
    When the clerk of the course decides it is safe to call in the safety car a message “STANDING START” will be sent to all teams via the official messaging system, all FIA light panels will display “SS” and the car’s orange lights will be extinguished. This will be the signal to the teams and drivers that it will be entering the pit lane at the end of that lap.
    At this point the first car in line behind the safety car may dictate the pace and, if necessary, fall more than ten car lengths behind it.
    Once the safety car has entered the pit lane all cars, with the exception of those required to start from the pit lane, must return to the grid, take up their grid positions and follow the procedures set out above.
The Race
During the race, drivers leaving the pit lane may only do so when the light at the end of the pit lane is green and on their own responsibility. A marshal with a blue flag and/or a flashing blue light, will also warn the driver if cars are approaching on the track.
Incidents During the Race
1. The race director may report any on-track incident or suspected breach of the Sporting Regulations or the International Sporting Code (an “Incident”) to the stewards. After review it shall be at the discretion of the stewards to decide whether or not to proceed with an investigation.
  The stewards may also investigate an Incident noted by themselves.
2. It shall be at the discretion of the stewards to decide if any driver involved in an Incident should be penalised. Unless it is clear to the stewards that a driver or drivers were wholly or predominantly to blame for an Incident no penalty will be imposed.
  If an Incident is under investigation by the stewards a message informing all teams which driver or drivers are involved will be sent via the official messaging system.
  Provided that such a message is displayed no later than 60 minutes after the race has finished the driver or drivers concerned may not leave the circuit without the consent of the stewards.
3. The stewards may impose any one of the penalties below on any driver involved in an Incident:
  1. A drive-through penalty, for minor penalties. The driver must enter the pit lane and re-join the race without stopping.
  2. A ten second time penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane, stop in his pit stop position for at least ten seconds and then re-join the race.
    In both of the above cases the driver concerned must carry out the penalty during the race, within 5 laps from the communication, including laps under whilst a VSC or safety car procedure is in use.
    If failing to carrying out the penalty in time, the driver will be shown black/white flag and black flag at race director discretion.
    Drivers can’t avoid to serve the penalty in order to have time added at the end of the race.
    If any of the four penalties above are imposed upon a driver, and that driver is unable to serve the penalty due to retirement from the race, the stewards may impose a grid place penalty on the driver at his next Competition.
    If any of the penalties above are imposed during the last five laps, or after the end of a race, article below will not apply and the time penalty will be added to the elapsed race time of the driver concerned.
  3. A reprimand.
  4. A drop of any number of grid positions at the driver’s next Competition.
  5. Disqualification from the results.
  6. Suspension from the driver’s next Competition.
4. Should the stewards decide to impose either of the penalties as per above, the following procedure will be followed:
  1. The stewards will give written notification of the penalty which has been imposed to the competitor concerned and will inform all teams via the official messaging system.
    Penalty should be served within 5 laps from the communication.
  2. Whilst a car is stationary in the pit lane as a result of incurring a penalty under Articles above it may not be worked on until the car has been stationary for the duration of the penalty.
    However, if the engine stops any work necessary to re-start it may be carried out after the time penalty period has elapsed. If the team is unable to start the engine the car may then only be worked on in the driver’s garage.
  3. Any breach or failure to comply with Articles above may result in the car being disqualified.
Safety Car
1. The FIA safety car will be driven by an FIA appointed driver and will carry an FIA observer capable of recognising all the competing cars who is in permanent radio contact with race control.
2. Fifty minutes before the start of the formation lap the safety car will leave the pit lane and take up position at the front of the grid and remain there until the five minute signal is given. At this point it will cover a whole lap of the circuit and take up position.
3. The safety car may be deployed in the event of a race start being delayed due to weather conditions as per above Point 9.
4. The safety car will not be deployed for any crash; in the event of a dangerous situation not requiring the race being neutralized, yellow flags or double yellow flags will be shown to drivers that must slow down accordingly.
  If a more serious crash or hazard in or outside the track is detected, all drivers will follow the VSC instructions as per below article.
  If the incident or hazard is so serious the race will be stopped following the red flag protocol.
5. During the Safety Car delayed starting procedure, No car may be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person at any time whilst the safety car is deployed. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.
6. The safety car will start from the finish line with its orange lights illuminated.
7. All competing cars must reduce speed and form up in line behind the safety car no more than ten car lengths apart.
  The stewards may impose either of the penalties above on any driver who fails to stay above the minimum time as required by the above.
8. No driver may overtake another car on the track, including the safety car, until he passes the Line for the first time after the safety car has returned to the pits.
  The exceptions are:
  1. If a driver is signalled to do so from the safety car.
  2. When entering the pits a driver may pass another car remaining on the track, including the safety car, after he has reached the first safety car line.
  3. When leaving the pits a driver may overtake, or be overtaken by, another car on the track before he reaches the second safety car line.
  4. When the safety car is returning to the pits it may be overtaken by cars on the track once it has reached the first safety car line.
  5. Whilst in the pit entry, pit lane or pit exit a driver may overtake another car which is also in one of these three areas.
  6. Any car stopping in its designated garage area whilst the safety car is using the pit lane may be overtaken.
  7. If any car slows with an obvious problem.
9. Once behind the safety car, the race leader must keep within ten car lengths of it.
10. Under certain circumstances the clerk of the course may ask the cars and the safety car to use the pit lane. In these cases, a signal to use the pit lane will be displayed before the start of the pit entry and all teams will be informed via the official messaging system, all cars must then enter the pit lane, drive through it and re-join the track. Any car entering the pit lane under these circumstances may however stop at its designated garage area. A penalty under Article above will be imposed on any driver who fails to enter the pit lane when required to do so.
  Other than when the cars and the safety car are required to use the pit lane, no car may enter the pits whilst the safety car is deployed unless it is for the purpose of changing tyres.
11. When the clerk of the course decides it is safe to call in the safety car the message “SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP” will be sent to all teams via the official messaging system and the car’s orange lights will be extinguished. This will be the signal to the teams and drivers that it will be entering the pit lane at the end of that lap.
Virtual Safety Car (VSC)
1. The VSC procedure may be initiated to neutralise a practice session or a race upon the order of the clerk of the course in the event of a crash or hazard on the track to allow marshals to complete rescue and removal operations.
2. When the order is given to initiate the VSC procedure a message “VSC DEPLOYED” will be sent to all teams via the official messaging system and all FIA light panels will display “VSC”.
3. Drivers will have to activate the pit limiter to proceed at 80km/h (unless the speed limit is set differently for a specific circuit) until the hazard is removed and VSC status is removed.
  The pit limiter must be activated within 5 seconds from the communication signal so drivers can slow down properly.
  No overtaking can be done during the VSC procedure is in use.
  When initiated during a race, cars can enter the pits during the VSC procedure to repair any damages occurred in the crash or to change tyres if the VSC has been called for sudden weather changes.
4. With the exception of the cases listed under 1 to 4 below, no driver may overtake another car on the track whilst the VSC procedure is in use.
  The exceptions are:
  1. When entering the pits a driver may pass another car remaining on the track after he has reached the first safety car line.
  2. When leaving the pits a driver may overtake, or be overtaken by, another car on the track before he reaches the second safety car line.
  3. Whilst in the pit entry, pit lane or pit exit a driver may overtake another car which is also in one of these three areas.
  4. If any car slows with an obvious problem.
5. When the clerk of the course decides it is safe to end the VSC procedure the message “VSC ENDING” will be sent to all teams via the official messaging system and, at any time between 10 and 15 seconds later, “VSC” on the FIA light panels will change to green and drivers may continue the session or continue racing immediately, removing the pit limiter. After 30 seconds the green lights will be extinguished.
6. Each lap completed whist the VSC procedure is in use during a race will be counted as a race lap.
Suspending a Race
1. If competitors or officials are placed in immediate physical danger by cars running on the track, and the clerk of the course deems circumstances are such that the track cannot be negotiated safely, even behind the safety car or during the VSC, the race will be suspended.
  Should it become necessary to suspend the race, the clerk of the course will order red flags to be shown at all marshal posts and the abort lights to be shown at the Line.
2. When the signal is given overtaking is forbidden, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must proceed slowly into the pit lane. The first car to arrive in the pit lane should proceed directly to the pit exit staying in the fast lane, all the other cars should form up in a line behind the first car.
3. Any cars unable to return to the pit lane as a result of the track being blocked will be brought back when the track is cleared and will be arranged in the order they occupied before the race was suspended.
  Additionally, any cars in the pit lane or pit entry at the time the race was suspended will be arranged in the order they occupied before the race was suspended.
  In all cases the order will be taken at the last point at which it was possible to determine the position of all cars. All such cars will then be permitted to resume the race.
  The Safety Car will then be driven to the front of the line of cars in the fast lane.
4. Whilst the race is suspended:
  1. The event clock will continue running, while the race one will be stopped.
  2. No repair can be performed on cars; if a car is damaged in a way that can’t rejoin the race after the red flag, it will have to retire when the race will restart. Exceptions:
    1. Starting the engine and any directly associated preparation.
    2. Tyres can be changed if the weather conditions require a switch from dry to wet or viceversa.
    3. Changes made for driver comfort.
  3. Only team members, officials and duly accredited television cameramen will be permitted in the pit lane.
5. Unless asked to do so by the FIA, cars may not be moved from the fast lane whilst the race is suspended. A penalty under Article above will be imposed on any driver whose car is moved from the fast lane to any other part of the pit lane.
6. At all times drivers must follow the directions of the marshals.
Resuming a Race
1. The delay will be kept as short as possible and as soon as a resumption time is known all teams will be informed via the official messaging system, in all cases at least ten minutes warning will be given.
2. The starting procedure will be followed as described in the dedicated article from the 10 minutes signal.
3. The race will be resumed behind the safety car when the green lights are illuminated. The safety car will enter the pits after one lap unless: A further incident occurs necessitating another intervention.
  When the green lights are illuminated the safety car will leave the pit lane and all drivers must follow, no more than ten car lengths apart.
4. Overtaking behind the safety car is only permitted in the following cases:
  1. Any driver who is delayed when leaving his position in the fast lane or during the lap(s) behind the safety car may overtake to re-establish his original starting position provided he does so before he crosses the first safety car line on the lap the safety car returns to the pits. Should he fail to do so he must re-enter the pit lane and may only re-join the race once the whole field has passed the end of the pit lane after the race has been resumed.
    A penalty under Article above will be imposed on any driver who fails to re-enter the pit lane if he has not re-established the original starting order before he reaches the first safety car line on the lap the safety car returns to the pits.
  2. Drivers may leave the fast lane in order to overtake any car delayed when leaving its position in the fast lane.
  3. Any driver whose car has been pushed from the fast lane, in accordance with Article above, may not overtake in order to re-establish the order before the race was suspended.
5. Either of the penalties under Article above will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, unnecessarily overtook another car during the lap (or laps).
6. After 1 lap behind the safety car the clerk of the course decides it is safe to call in the safety car a message “STANDING START” will be sent to all teams via the official messaging system, all FIA light panels will display “SS” and the car’s orange lights will be extinguished. This will be the signal to the teams and drivers that it will be entering the pit lane at the end of that lap.
  At this point the first car in line behind the safety car may dictate the pace and, if necessary, fall more than ten car lengths behind it.
  Once the safety car has entered the pit lane all cars, with the exception of those that were in their garage at the time the race was suspended must return to the grid, take up their grid positions and follow the procedures set out in the Articles above.
Finish
1. A chequered light panel will be the end-of-race signal and will be shown at the Line as soon as the leading car has covered the full race distance.
2. Should for any reason the end-of-race signal be given before the leading car completes the scheduled number of laps, or the prescribed time has been completed, the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car last crossed the Line before the signal was given.
  Should the end-of- race signal be delayed for any reason, the race will be deemed to have finished when it should have finished.
3. After receiving the end-of-race signal all cars must proceed on the circuit directly to the post-race parc fermé without any unnecessary delay and without any assistance (except that of the marshals if necessary).
  An exception to the above will be made for the drivers who may perform an act of celebration before reaching parc fermé, provided any such act:
  1. Is performed safely and does not endanger other drivers or any officials.
  2. Does not call into question the legality of his car.
4. Any classified car which cannot reach the post-race parc fermé under its own power will be placed under the exclusive control of the marshals who will take the car to the parc fermé.
Classification
1. The car placed first will be the one having covered the scheduled distance in the shortest time, or, where appropriate, passed the Line in the lead at the end of two hours. All cars will be classified taking into account the number of complete laps they have covered, and for those which have completed the same number of laps, the order in which they crossed the Line.
2. Cars having covered less than 90% of the number of laps covered by the winner (rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps), will not be classified.
3. The official classification will be published after the race. It will be the only valid result subject to any amendments which may be made under the International Sporting Code and the Sporting Regulations.

ARTICLE 5: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS DURING A COMPETITION

Scrutineering
1. Each competitor will be required to carry out initial scrutineering of his cars and submit the duly completed declaration no later than 90 minutes before the start of FP1.
2. Unless a waiver is granted by the stewards, competitors who do not keep to these time limits will not be allowed to take part in the Competition.
3. No car may take part in the Competition until the declaration above has been submitted, and the FIA technical delegate has confirmed to the competitor that he is satisfied it has been fully and correctly completed.
4. Any competitor whose car has a change of survival cell after initial must complete a new declaration for approval by the FIA technical delegate.
5. The scrutineers may:
  1. Check the eligibility of a car or of a competitor at any time during a Competition.
  2. Require a car to be dismantled by the competitor to make sure that the conditions of eligibility or conformity are fully satisfied.
  3. Require a competitor to pay the reasonable expenses which exercise of the powers mentioned in this Article may entail.
  4. Require a competitor to supply them with such parts or samples as they may deem necessary.
6. The race director or the clerk of the course may require that any car involved in an accident be stopped and checked.
7. Checks and scrutineering shall be carried out by duly appointed officials.
8. The stewards will publish the findings of the scrutineers each time cars are checked during the Competition. These results will not include any specific figure except when a car is found to be in breach of the Technical Regulations.
Weighing
1. After FP1 or during the qualifying practice session cars will be weighed as follows:
  1. When signalled to do so the driver will proceed directly to the FIA garage and stop his engine.
    Any driver who fails to stop when asked to do so, and then fails to bring the car back to the FIA garage, or if work is carried out on the car before it is returned to the FIA garage, will be referred to the stewards.
  2. At the end of the qualifying session all cars which took part in Q3 will be weighed. If a driver wishes to leave his car before it is weighed he must ask the technical delegate to weigh him in order that this weight may be added to that of the car.
  3. If a car stops on the circuit during the qualifying session and the driver leaves the car, he must go to the FIA garage immediately on his return to the pit lane in order for his weight to be established.
2. After the race any classified car may be weighed. If a driver wishes to leave his car before it is weighed he must ask the technical delegate to weigh him in order that this weight may be added to that of the car.
3. The relevant car may be disqualified should its weight be less than that specified in the Technical Regulations, save where the deficiency in weight results from the accidental loss of a component of the car.
4. No substance may be added to, placed on, or removed from a car after it has been selected for weighing or has finished the race or during the weighing procedure.
5. In the event of any breach of these provisions for the weighing of cars the stewards may drop the driver such number of grid positions as they consider appropriate or disqualify him from the race.
Refuelling
1. General provisions
  1. Refuelling is only permitted in the team’s designated garages.
  2. Fuel may not be added to nor removed from a car after it has left the pit lane to start the first reconnaissance lap permitted.
2. The driver may remain in his car throughout refuelling but the engine must be stopped.
3. During all refuelling or fuel handling operations:
  1. The relevant personnel must be wearing outer garments which are in compliance with either FIA Standard 8867-2016 or FIA Standard 8856-2000.
  2. An assistant equipped with a suitable fire extinguisher of appropriate capacity must be present and must be wearing outer garments which are in compliance with either FIA Standard 8867-2016 or FIA Standard 8856-2000.
  3. All cars, refuelling equipment and containers must be suitably grounded where necessary.
  4. Any powered pumping system used to transfer fuel must be operated by a non-latching switch or be turned off automatically if the operator leaves.
Pre-Race Modification
Teams are allowed to intervene on each of their cars freely and in any way up to the thirty minutes signal before the starting of a race.
No pre-race parc fermé.
Set-ups can be amended between qualifying and race and parts can be replaced as long as they’re a new identical component replacing an old or damaged one or a completely new part, provided that it has been already certified through the Safety Assessments and Test described in the Technical Regulations.
Post-Race Parc Fermé
1. Only those officials charged with supervision may enter the post-race parc fermé. No intervention of any kind is allowed there unless authorised by such officials.
2. When the parc fermé is in use, parc fermé regulations will apply in the area between the Line and the parc fermé entrance.
3. The parc fermé shall be secured such that no unauthorised persons can gain access to it.
Spare Cars
Each competitor must have the exact number amount of cars that he has registered (either 1 or 2).
No spare car is allowed, although there is no limitation in the number of spare/replacement parts that can be brought and used during a Competition.
This includes also supplied components, such as engines, gearboxes, electrical systems, braking systems, suspensions, etc.
Operational personnel during a Competition and the Season
During a competition competitors are allowed to have maximum of 25 operational personnel working on each car (including pit crew). The Pit crew is limited to 5 elements, 1 specialized in refueling and the other 4 in tyres replacement and damage reparation.
For the avoidance of doubt staff whose duties are solely connected with hospitality, team motorhomes, sponsors, marketing, public relations, security or driving trucks to or from the Competition are not considered operational personnel. There is no limitation in working time during the Competition.

For the Formula One World Title, each constructor must have two crews of 25 members for each car; the first one operative in the first 20 races, the second one in the second half of the season to ensure proper workload.
For the Formula One Continental Series, a member of the operational staff can’t work in more than 18 Competitions.
Each team must have a number of operational personnel adequate to ensure compliance with the above rule and properly arranged turnover.
Additional safety provisions during a Competition
1. The race director, the clerk of the course or the FIA medical delegate can require a driver to have a medical examination at any time during a Competition.
  If, after an incident, the Medical Warning Light signals that threshold forces have been exceeded the driver must be examined by the Competition’s medical service without delay, the FIA Medical Delegate will determine the most appropriate place for this examination.
2. The organiser must make at least two fire extinguishers of 5kg capacity available to each competitor and ensure that they work properly.
3. Unless authorised by the FIA no one under the age of 16 is allowed in the pit lane at the following times:
  1. The period commencing fifteen minutes prior to and ending five minutes after every practice session.
  2. The period commencing fifteen minutes before the pit exit is opened to allow cars to cover reconnaissance laps and the time when the last car enters the parc fermé after the race has ended.
4. Animals, except those which may have been expressly authorised by the FIA for use by security services, are forbidden on the track, in the pit lane, in the paddock or in any spectator area.

ARTICLE 6: TYRE Supply

Supply of tyres
1. Each tyre manufacturer allowed to participate to a Competition must bring enough tyres of each compound for each of his customers to complete all session in accordance with the technical and sporting regulations.
2. There is no limitation in the number of tyres he can bring, as long as they are compliant with the 4 compounds described in the Technical Regulations:
  1. Qualify Slick, no restriction on number
  2. Race, one set per each car supplied assigned to the race, plus two spare ones for any issues with the first one. Free amount to be used during FP1 and Warm-up.
  3. Intermediate, no restriction on number.
  4. Wet, no restriction on number.
3. If a supplier is supplying more constructors with his tyres, he needs to provide each one with the exact same number of tyres for each compound.
Control of tyres
At the beginning of the Competition the FIA delegate will inspect a random sample of each compound for each supplier to ensure they’re compliant with the technical regulations and with the specification provided.
If a supplier is found non compliant, penalties may be applied: fines, grid penalties, full disqualification from the Competition depending on the severity of the infringement.
After the Competition, longer and/or permanent exclusions may be evaluated.
Use of tyres
All tyres must be operated in accordance with the prescriptions issued prior to each Competition by the supplier, by all teams.
(i.e. if a supplier indicated a range of tyre pressure, all teams served by him will have to comply).
Testing of tyres
Testing of tyres, as well as any other components, is free.

ARTICLE 7: MEDIA ACTIVITIES, PROTOCOL AND MEETINGS

Media Activities, Drivers’ Parade and National Anthem
1. First day of the Competition
  All drivers and team representatives must be available to participate in media and promotional activities (as defined by the FIA Media Delegate, in conjunction with the Commercial Rights Holder with regard to the promotional activities) for a maximum duration of two hours during the Saturday, between FP1 and the qualifying session, or after it.
  All drivers must be made available to media at their team’s hospitality for a minimum of five minutes after their qualifying session is over.
2. Race day
  All drivers and team representatives must made available to media at their team’s hospitality for a minimum of ten minutes after the Warm-up session.
  One hour and 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap all drivers must attend a drivers’ parade. Competitors will be given details of the parade by the FIA Media Delegate. A ten-minute period at the start of this drivers’ parade may be partitioned by the FIA Media Delegate for a driver activity (including, but not limited to, group photos, social media activities, celebrity interaction or trackside fan engagement) – teams will be notified of these activities no later than 24 hours before the start of the procedure.
  16 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap all drivers must be present at the front of the grid for the playing of the national anthem. Competitors will be given details by the FIA Media Delegate.
  Any driver retiring before the end of the race must immediately make themselves available for media interviews after their return to the paddock.
  Immediately after the race, the first three drivers will take part in the post-race media interview procedures as set out in the Race Director’s Note issued prior to the session.
  All drivers who finish the race outside the top three must make themselves available immediately after the end of the race for media interviews. In addition, any driver who does not have a written media session organised by their team after the race must attend a group session as defined by the FIA Media Delegate.
  During the race every team must make at least one senior spokesperson available for interviews by officially accredited TV crews. Between one and two hours after the end of the race, all teams must make one senior spokesperson available to media at their team’s hospitality for a minimum of five minutes.
3. Additional media activities on all days of a Competition
  Media activities can be done also on the Friday although it is not mandatory and they don’t have to be held in the circuit premises.
  Drivers and team representatives must be available at all reasonable times during a Competition to talk to the media as required by the FIA Media Delegate, in consultation with the Commercial Rights Holder for broadcast matters.
Podium Ceremony and Post-Race Media Activities
The drivers finishing the race in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions and a representative of the winning constructor must attend the prize-giving ceremony on the podium and abide by the podium procedure set out below.
1. Master of Ceremonies
  A master of ceremonies will be appointed by the FIA to conduct and take responsibility for the entire podium ceremony.
2. Podium
  Podiums must have 3 spots at 3 different heights for the top three finishing drivers.
  Flags should be raised above each driver once they appear on the podium.
  Podiums can be colored and arranged at the organizer will, provided that no political, religious or any other dangerous message is shared through it.
  Trophies must be laid out on a single table on one side of the podium. The champagne must be on the dais.
3. Anthems
  The national anthem of the winning driver and winning team will be played.
  A suitable sound system should be installed to ensure that national anthems, (initiated by the master of ceremonies) are clearly heard with an audio link to the TV broadcast.
  When the champagne shower begins, music should be played. This should not start until the presenters have left the podium.
  A commentary of the podium ceremony should be broadcast to the general public from the platform erected for the TV cameras.
4. Trophies
  Only 4 trophies will be presented during the podium ceremony:
  1. Winning driver.
  2. A representative of the winning constructor.
  3. Second driver.
  4. Third driver.
    The trophies will be provided by the event organizer and must show:
    1. The FIA Formula 1 World Championship official logo.
    2. The official name of the Competition.
    3. The driver’s position.
      Trophies must be of a design that is capable of being handled and transported without damage.
      They don’t have to contain any other message (i.e. political, religious) other than the celebratory status for the Competition
5. Podium Protocol
  The driver’s and constructor’s awards will be presented by a different person nominated by the host city or country.
  No message not related to the podium ceremony should be divulgated by the persons invited during the award presentation.
  The master of ceremonies will inform the TV and public address commentator of the names of the persons presenting the trophies.
6. Television
  The ideal position for the TV camera is immediately opposite the podium and at the same height. Under no circumstances must there be a TV camera man on the podium.
7. Parc Fermé location
  The parc fermé must be positioned as close as possible to the podium, preferably immediately below, with direct access.
  As soon as all the cars have crossed the Line, a course car must go round the track to collect any driver who has finished in the first three but is stranded on the circuit.
8. Parc Fermé interviews
  Once the top three finishers have parked in the designated positions in parc fermé, they will follow the procedure set out in the Race Director’s note which will be issued prior to the race.
  Each driver will be interviewed in the parc fermé area, before being taken by the FIA Media Delegate to the Cool Down Room, where they will be weighed by the FIA Technical Delegate before the podium ceremony begins.
9. Post-race media activities
  Once the podium ceremony has concluded, drivers will be taken by the FIA Media Delegate to conduct the media activities as defined in this article.
Meetings
A meeting, chaired by the race director, will take place two hours before the start of FP1.
Should the race director consider another meeting necessary it can be arranged any time between the sessions. All drivers and team managers must attend.
Car livery
1. There are no limitations in the livery choice by each competitor, provided that they don’t share any message not directly related with the sport through it.
  The colour could be dictated by the main sponsor or by the country of origin or by any other design reason.
2. If a constructor is entering two cars, they may have different liveries, provided they’re both compliant with the above.
  Liveries may be changed in any Competition, as long as compliant with point 1 above
3. If the livery of both cars will be the same, In order that the cars of each team may be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the on board cameras located above the principal roll structure of the first car must remain as it is supplied to the team and the second car must be predominantly fluorescent yellow.
4. Each car will carry the race number of its driver as published by the FIA at the beginning of the season or the race number that has been allocated to his replacement. This number must be clearly visible from the front of the car and on the driver’s crash helmet.
5. Race numbers will be permanently allocated to drivers and must then be used during every Formula One World Championship Competition he takes part in the season.
  Driver can change their number at the end of season, provided that they choose one not used by any other driver within the same Series.
6. The only exception to this allocation process will be for the reigning World Champion who will have the option to use the number one. The number that was previously allocated to him will be reserved for him in subsequent seasons if he does not retain the title of World Champion.
7. The name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the front of the nose of the car and in either case be visible. The name of the driver must appear on the external bodywork and be clearly legible.

ARTICLE 8: TRACK RUNNING OUTSIDE A COMPETITION

Testing of Current Cars (TCC), Promotional and Demonstration Events (PE and DE)
1. Testing of Current Cars (TCC) shall be defined as any track running time, not part of an Event, in which a competitor entered in the Championship participates, using cars which were designed and built in order to comply with the Formula One Technical Regulations of the Championship, or those of the preceding year’s or the following year’s Championships. No competitor may sell or make available any such car of the current year to any third party.
2. Promotional Events (PE)
  Each competitor will also be permitted to carry out as many Promotional Events (PE) as he wants or need to with the above cars which will not be considered TCC. A PE shall be defined as an event in which a competitor participates purely for marketing or promotional purposes.
  During these events data related to performances of the car are not collected by any party.
3. Demonstration Events (DE)
  Each competitor will also be permitted to carry out Demonstration Events (DE) with the above cars which will not be considered TCC. A DE shall be defined as an event in which a competitor participates purely for demonstration purposes.
  During these events data related to performances of the car are not collected by any party.
4. Information provided to the FIA with regard to TCC, PE and DE
  In order that an FIA observer may be appointed, competitors must inform the FIA of any planned TCC, PE or DE at least 72 hours before it is due to commence, the following information should be provided:
  1. The precise specification of the car(s) to be used.
  2. The name(s) of the driver(s) if known.
  3. The nature of the test.
  4. The date(s) and intended duration of the test.
  5. The purpose of the test.
Testing of Historic Cars (THC)
Testing of Historic Cars (THC) shall be defined as any track running time, not part of an Event, in which a competitor entered in the Championship participates using cars which were designed and built in order to comply with the Formula One Technical Regulations in force during the years preceding the current one.
THC may only be carried out with cars built to the specification of the period, with no parts or item used during the current season.
Tyres must not be the ones used during the current season.
Tyre suppliers and competitors are invited to reuse/recycle tyres for such events.
During these events data related to performances of the car are not collected by any party.
Safety requirements during TCC, TPC or PE
Competitors may only participate in TCC, TPC or PE using cars which:
1. Comply with all the safety-related requirements of the F1 Technical Regulations. Minimal exceptions will be accepted for the sole purpose of test sensor installations, provided they do not compromise the safety of the driver, team personnel or marshals. Any such exceptions must be communicated to the FIA no less than a week before the TCC, PPC or PE. The FIA may, at its absolute discretion deem such a design to be unsafe and request for the modification to be taken off the car.
2. Have been subjected to, and fulfilled all the requirements of the static and dynamic tests described in the F1 Technical Regulations of the relevant year.
3. If, after an incident during TCC and TPC, the Medical Warning Light signals that threshold forces have been exceeded the driver must present himself for examination in the circuit medical centre without delay.
Available opportunities for TCC
1. TCC may only take place on tracks currently approved for use by Formula 1 cars, which are part of the Circuit Database, or private circuits directly owned by a competitor.
  There is no limitation in the location of testing and in the amount of track time for TCC a competitor can perform, provided that he still complies with the Financial Regulations.
  Working time of operations personnel during TCC won’t be included in the number of Competition, provided that Financial Regulations are not breached.
2. The FIA won’t organize any test session, but manufacturers are free to arrange common test sessions as long as organized accordingly with the rules of this Article.
3. Competitors can use any drivers, not necessarily the one or two employed for the ongoing season, provided that such drivers have the correct driving license.
4. Competitors and suppliers can test any experimental or prototype of a part or component, as long as it has been communicated to the FIA prior to the event and that the FIA has run necessary Safety Assessment as per Technical Regulations.
Specific Requirements for TCC
1. Red flag and end-of-session procedures must be respected.
2. The fuel handling procedures set out above must be respected.
3. No other type of vehicle is permitted on the track.
4. Emergency and medical protocols should be at the same level as the ones provided during a Competition.

ARTICLE 9: OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS

Purpose of this Article
1. Factories, R&D laboratories, IT structures, wind tunnels, engine bench testing facilities and any other facility used by a competitor can be accessed and used at any time of the year, provided that the competitor is respecting the Sporting and Financial Rules.
  The same concept applies to all suppliers, which are also not subject to Financial Regulations.
2. Competitors can use any IT software and/or solution to design their car or components of it and simulate the assembly.
3. For testing them, the FIA allows both real-life testing, whether in a Wind Tunnel Testing facility or on a racetrack, as per above article and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) testing.
  There is also no restriction in the amount of time dedicated to CFD testing and the technology used to perform such task, as long as the competitor is compliant with all Financial Regulations.
  For Wind Tunnels, there are no limitations of the technology used, as long as all operations are completed safely for all personnel involved during the testing.
  Real size models of the car can be used, as well as scaled versions, depending on the need.
4. Any aerodynamic test conducted by an F1 car at any Competition are also not restricted, as long as conducted safely and in respect with the Sporting Regulation of the session when they are conducted.
Movement of personnel
No Competitor may use movement of personnel involved in the development, design or testing of aerodynamic surfaces (whether employee, consultant, contractor, secondee or any other type of permanent or temporary personnel) with another Competitor, either directly or via an external entity.

ARTICLE 10: APPLICABILITY

All articles part of the Sporting Regulations are applicable for the Formula One World Championship and each Continental Series, unless otherwise specified in the specific point.

Share this:

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply