LONDON: Formula One teams and decision makers have agreed changes to the points system and tire rules for this season as well as a ban on controversial ‘double diffusers’ from 2011.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement on Tuesday that the new points system will see the top 10 rewarded in a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 sequence to encourage what it called “the race to win.”
The FIA had said in December that the points would be allocated 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1 to reward race winners and encourage overtaking.
The Formula One Commission, which groups the teams and major stakeholders, agreed the amendments to the sporting and technical regulations at a meeting on Monday. The measures will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval within 48 hours, although that can usually be taken for granted.
The tire rules will be modified so that those drivers reaching the third and final phase of qualifying will have to start the race on the same set of tires with which their grid time was set.
That will introduce another strategic element to races.
“The number of dry weather tires sets allocated per team has been reduced from 14 to 11,” the FIA added.
“In addition, to encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions, one set has to be returned before the start of the second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session.” For 2011, the ‘double diffusers’ that pitched last season into controversy from the opening race when some teams such as eventual champions Brawn turned up with a radical interpretation, will be banned.
The permitted height of the main diffuser was also reduced from 175mm to 125mm.
The so-called ‘split level’ or ‘double-decker’ diffuser used by Brawn, Toyota and Williams was a radical re-working of a device that improves downforce by channelling the flow of air smoothly under the car. The other teams then had to rush to copy it after losing appeals against it.
Teams unveiling their 2010 cars have been coy about their rear diffusers, sparking fears that a fresh row could erupt when the season starts on March 14 in Bahrain.
Massa fastest again at F1 testing; Hamilton third
In Valencia, Spain, Felipe Massa continued to show no effects from the life-threatening injuries sustained last year as the Ferrari driver led Formula One testing on Tuesday. Massa clocked a best lap of 1 minute, 11.722 seconds around Valencia’s Cheste circuit to lead Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi by just over three-tenths of a second after the morning session.
Lewis Hamilton’s first spin in his new McLaren left him third best with a lap of 1:12.508.
Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP and Williams driver Rubens Barrichello were next, with Renault’s Robert Kubica and Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso completing the field. Massa was fastest in the season’s first session on Monday, which marked the Brazilian’s first drive since a freak crash at Hungary in July.
Force India appoints Di Resta as reserve driver
Meantime, Dario Franchitti’s 23-year-old cousin Paul di Resta will be Force India’s test and reserve driver this season, the Formula One team announced on Tuesday.
Force India said in a statement Di Resta would attend all the races and, with testing banned during the season, was expected to take part in some Friday practice sessions at grand prix weekends.
“I see this move as taking me one step closer to achieving my dream of racing in F1 but I know I have a lot to learn in terms of the car and the tracks right now,” said Di Resta, whose cousin is champion of the US IndyCar series and a former Indy 500 winner.
“I think this program is a perfect way to prepare fully and be ready to go if and when the chance of a race seat comes.
I hope this will be the start of a long-term future with Force India.”
