The 2014 season of Formula One saw a bevy of changes made to this motosport's rule book, and now we have reports of changes for the next season coming in. While one rumour hinted at the inclusion of titanium skid plates, the latest report claims that the races will restart from a standing start following safety car periods.
The rule reads, 'Safety Car restarts will now be a standing start from the grid. Standing starts will not be carried out if the Safety Car is used within two laps of the start (or restart) of a race or if there are less than five laps of the race remaining.'
The idea was raised during an F1 Commission meeting, and looks like the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has ratified the change in regulations. The only time standing restarts will not be used is if the safety car is deployed in the opening two laps or within five laps of the finish of the race.
F1's top brass believes that this rule will help build the excitement in races. However, have they spared a thought to the fact that the race will be interrupted, possibly, on multiple occasions and affect drivers' concentration, as a consequence.
Standing starts are only one of the several changes to Formula One regulations next year; testing will also be reduced again. The amendment suggests that the number of four-day pre-season tests will be reduced to two from three in 2016, and will be restricted to Europe. The 2015 season will also see a reduction of in-season testing from four tests to two; each consisting of only two days.
Aerodynamic testing will also see a few changes including new wind tunnel restrictions. The amount of permitted hours per week will be reduced from 80 to 65, with wind-on hours being lowered from 30 to 25 hours per week.
There will also be a change in the number of power units that each driver is permitted to use. The number has been reduced to four for next season, although it will be increased to five if the calendar consists of more than 20 races. Also, if a driver changes a complete power unit he will have to start from the back of the grid instead of the pit lane.
Other changes include the Friday night curfew being raised from six to seven hours, which will further rise to eight in 2016.
There are a number of changes being made to the Formula One rulebook, with Safety cars gearing up to shatter the flow of the race. This, among other aforementioned changes, leads us to contemplate the practicality of these changes. But that's us. Tell us what do you think about the changes.
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