The rule changes which take effect in 2005 are summarised below.
20 May: The teams have unanimously agreed to a change in the much-maligned 2005 qualifying format which is to take affect from the European GP at the Nurburgring. There will be a single qualifying session, held on Saturday, with one flying lap per driver carrying race fuel. Starting order will be the reverse of the previous race's finishing order.
Changes: Front wing height raised; Rear wing moved forward; Diffuser made less effective.
Restrictions on design have been introduced as a further way to control the speed of the cars by dramatically limiting the amount of aerodynamic downforce. The aim was to cut downforce by 25%, although leading designers say they have managed to claw back a "significant" amount of that. It was hoped that a by-product of these aerodynamic restrictions might be that overtaking was made easier. Time will tell, but the early signs are not promising! Top
Engines must now last for two races, rather than just one. A driver who needs a new engine during practice will be relegated 10 places on the grid, but if the change takes place after first qualifying, he will start from the back. Top
There will still be two sessions, the first from 1pm to 2pm on Saturday and the second from 10am to 11am on Sunday. The first session is single-lap qualifying, with the cars going out in the reverse order of their finishing positions at the previous race. The second session is also single-lap qualifying, with the cars going out in the reverse order from qualifying on Saturday (i.e. the fastest car on Saturday runs last on Sunday). All fairly familiar so far, except for the time change - the big change is that the times of the two sessions are aggregated to determine the grid, with the shortest aggregate time in pole position. Cars runs with unrestricted fuel on Saturday and are then locked in Parc Ferme until the following day. On Sunday, cars run with race fuel. Rules concerning third cars (and their drivers) during Friday practice and the revised format for Saturday qualifying are set out alongside the relevant session below.
Engines
Qualifying
Mid-season change: From European GP onwards, there will be a single qualifying session, held on Saturday, with one flying lap per driver carrying race fuel. Starting order will be the reverse of the previous race's finishing order. Top
Race Weekend Schedule
| Day | Local Time | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday (note 1) |
11.00 - 12.00 | Free Practice 1 | During both sessions all teams, other than those who finished in the top four positions of the previous year's World Championship for Constructors, will be permitted to run a third car provided any driver of this car: - is not one of the team's nominated drivers for the Event in question; - is in possession of a Super Licence; - has not taken place in more than six World Championship Events during the two previous World Championships. If one of the team's nominated drivers is deemed unable to driver at some stage after the end of initial scrutineering, and the stewards agree to a change of driver, the driver of a third car may take part in the remainder of the Event. Under such circumstances a driver who started the Event as a "third" driver would have to continue with the same engine for the remainder of the Event. The requirements of Article 60 concerning car livery will not apply to the third car being used during these two sessions but will apply should this car be used as the team's spare car during the remainder of the Event. |
| 14.00 - 15.00 | Free Practice 2 | ||
| Saturday | 9.00 - 9.45 | Free Practice 3 | The Qualifying session will be run as follows: - the session will be held in two parts, the first starting at 13.00 on Saturday and the second at 10.00 on Sunday; - during the first part each driver will carry out a single timed lap as now starting in the order they finished in the previous race. At the first race of the year the order of the last Event of the previous year's World Championship will be used (in both cases any new drivers will be arranged in numerical order); - refuelling rigs will be allowed in the first part subject to everyone wearing suitable clothing and photographers being restricted as for a race; - the running order for the second part will be determined by the times achieved in the first part reversed. If two or more drivers set identical times in the first session, or if more than one driver failed to record a time, they will be arranged in first session order; - in the second part cars will run with race fuel and race settings as in 2004; - the times from both sessions will be aggregated, with the shortest aggregate time taking pole position; - in both sessions cars will be released as the previous one crosses the line to start its flying lap; - in both sessions the 6th, 11th and 16th cars in sequence will be released two minutes after the previous finishes its flying lap; - if one or more drivers fail to complete a flying lap in one qualifying session they will be arranged at the back of the grid in the order of their fastest individual lap times. If more than one driver fails to complete a flying lap in both qualifying sessions they will be arranged at the back of the grid in numerical order. |
| 10.15 - 11.00 | Free Practice 4 | ||
| 13.00 | Qualifying 1 | ||
| Sunday | 10.00 | Qualifying 2 (note 2) |
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| 14.00 | Race (note 3) |
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| Notes: 1 2 3 |
Free Practice 1 & 2 at Monaco will take place on Thursday Except for Malaysia and Turkey (11.00), Bahrain and Japan (10.30), Canada, USA and GB (09.00) Except for Malaysia and Turkey (15.00), Bahrain and Japan (14.30), Canada, USA and GB (13.00) |
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All drivers will be allowed only three sets of the same specification tyres for Saturday and Sunday. One will be used for Saturday practice, a second for both Qualifying and the Race, while the third set will be held back. Only a damaged tyre may be changed during a race - unless conditions change between wet and dry - and no refuelling is allowed when a car pits for a tyre change.
The requirement for one set of tyres to be used for qualifying and race will have a huge impact. Along with the changes to aerodynamics and engines, this was introduced to stop the escalation in cornering speeds and lap times that has accompanied the tyre war between Bridgestone and Michelin.
Drivers have reported that the cars slide around more, but that in itself will not make much difference - they will adapt. More significantly, races will be transformed from a series of short sprints between pit stops into marathons in which drivers have to look after their tyres to ensure they remain in good shape until the end of the race.
The new rule may promote more overtaking, especially later in races, as drivers who have looked after their tyres by pacing themselves in the early stages look for a way past those whose tyres are worn out. Top
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