New Rules and Regulations of F1 - A complete List

Here’s a quick gist of complete rules changes for F1 2008.

Standard engine control unit.

Teams are required to use a standard engine control unit supplied by Microsoft McLaren Electronic Systems which, like the McLaren F1 team, is part of the McLaren Group. The purpose of this is to allow the FIA to enforce a ban on driver aids such as traction control. It will also limit teams abilities to run electronic engine braking systems. No car may be equipped with a system or device which is capable of preventing the driven wheels from spinning under power or of compensating for excessive throttle demand by the driver. Any device or system which notifies the driver of the onset of wheel spin is not permitted.

Engine development freeze

Teams must use the same engines in 2008 as they did in 2007, with development restricted to a small number of parts. This freeze on development is expected to last at least five years and next year teams will be allowed to use Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems to provide increased power.

Restrictions on materials

As a cost-cutting measure the teams have been limited to using a restricted range of materials in the building of their cars.

Bio fuel minimum

The cars’ fuel must be a minimum of 5.75% bio fuel. This will allow F1 cars to be in line with new road cars which will have the same requirement from 2010.

Changing Gearbox Restriction

Changing a gearbox will incur a five-place grid penalty at the event where a driver changes gearbox. A further gearbox replacement results in a fresh penalty. If a driver fails to finish a race, “for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver,” they may fit a fresh gearbox for the next event without incurring a penalty.

Promotion of young drivers

Teams can run promotional days and try out young drivers without it counting towards their limit of 30,000km of testing.

Increased head protection

The cockpit sides have been raised to give drivers better head protection, making the profile of the cars noticeably different this year..

Engine replacement penalties

The ten-place grid penalty for changing a two-race engine remains, but drivers will not incur that penalty for a first offense.

Space cars restrictions

Teams can only have two cars assembled at any one time during a weekend and the stewards will consider a “partially assembled survival cell…fitted with an engine, any front suspension, bodywork, radiators, oil tanks or heat exchangers” to be a car.

Qualifying restrictions

It is expected that teams will run shorter first stints in the races. It should also greatly reduce the amount of time spent in the tedious ‘fuel burn’ phase at the start of the third part of qualifying.

Four-race gearboxes

Gearboxes must now last four races without being changed. Teams can still change the clutch, oil, oil filters and associated system, hydraulics not related to gear shifting, and parts mounted to the casing that do not handle gear selection. Ratios can be changed to help tune a car to a particular circuit.