The FIA has released an update to the Formula 1 sporting regulations in an attempt to address issues that have arisen during the early races of the 2024 season. These changes aim to tackle false starts and ensure that teams do not skip practice sessions affected by wet weather.
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lando Norris escaped a penalty for a false start as the FIA transponder in his McLaren car did not detect any movement. Initially, it seemed that Norris would be penalized for this violation, but the FIA has now introduced a new rule starting from the Miami Grand Prix.
Under the revised regulations, stewards will have the authority to penalize a car for a false start even if the FIA transponders do not record any movement. The requirement that the judgment be made “by an FIA approved and supplied transponder” has been removed. A driver will be penalized for a false start if they move “after the four-second light is illuminated and before the start signal is given, extinguishing all red lights.”
Furthermore, the FIA has implemented another rule to encourage teams to participate in meaningful races during practice sessions affected by rain, rather than preserving their limited supply of intermediate tires for later in the weekend. Article 30.5(g) states that “Of the five sets of intermediate tires allocated to each driver according to Article 30.2 (a) ii, if [first, second or third practice] is declared wet, one set of intermediate tires must be electronically returned within two hours after the end of [third practice].”
A recent wet FP2 training session in Japan saw only nine drivers completing a lap time throughout the one-hour training session, leading to dissatisfaction from various parties, including Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.
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