2005 F1 Rule Changes

1: Front wing raised by 10cm - decreases downforce
2: Tyres must last both qualifying sessions and the race
3: Driver must change driving style
4: Engines must last two races
5: Rear wing brought forward 15cm and lengthened

1 & 5: One of the FIA's methods in reducing the speed of modern day Formula 1 cars was to reduce the downforce, and to do this a series of regulations have been put in place that reduces the downforce by 30%. The front nose has been raised by 10cm, the rear wing has been forward and the rear diffuser is smaller.

The teams, however; have put their wind tunnels on maximum power ever since the regulations were set in stone and the majority of the leading teams have managed to recuperate almost all of the 30% lost but drivers continue to complain that the cars are sliding around a lot more due to the different characteristics of the cars.

2: Another of the FIA's plan to reduce speed was to bring in a new tyre rule that asks the teams to complete both qualifying sessions and the race on one set of tyres. The compounds are therefore harder, reducing grip, making the cars more difficult to control, especially during the final 10-15 laps of the races.

A driver can test four different compounds of tyres on the Friday before before forced to decide on two compounds by 8am on Saturday morning. That driver can then use one set for the Saturday practice sessions before putting on the set that will take him from first qualifying through to the end of the race.

If a driver punctures, then he is able to replace that tyre, but if the driver flat spots his tyre during the race, causing vibrations, then that driver must continue with that set of tyres or retire. A driver who looks after his tyre will undoubtedly have an advantage towards the end of the race.

The third measure brought in by the FIA is the one engine per two races rule. This rule was brought in late last season and many engine manufacturers have increased costs to produce the special engine. However, despite the short time scale, many of the manufacturers have reported little or no power loss while Renault seem to have gained power, though their reliability is troublesome.

An engine failure before qualifying of the race weekend will result in a ten position penalty on the grid, but if a driver suffers a failure after the first qualifying then the driver will go to the back of the grid. A failure during the first race will incur no penalty in the second race.

As last year, there are two one-lap qualifying sessions but while the first one remains at 13:00 CET on Saturday, the second is now at 10:00 CET on Sunday morning. The pole position will be determined by the total of the two times set by the drivers. A driver who fails to set a time will go to the back of the grid.