The FIA has confirmed a number of minor changes for the 2012 season, the result of a World Motor Sport Council meeting in India on Wednesday.
The Safety Car regulations have been tweaked to allow all lapped cars to unlap themselves and join the rear of the pack, to ensure of a clean re-start. This has been an issue recently with slower cars impeding those racing for leading positions, diluting the action.
Races will now be limited to four hours, including suspensions. This regulation is the result of this years Canadian GP which lasted four hours and two minutes thanks to a two-hour red flag, making it the longest F1 race in history.
During a suspension, if a car was in the pit lane when the suspension took place, it will be allowed to re-join the cars on the grid in its original position before suspension. Previously the car would have had to start from the pits.
![Franco Colpinto [front] avoided Liam Lawson [back] at the start of the Australian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Franco-Colapinto-F1-Aus-GP-120x86.webp)
Rules regarding defensive racing have also been changed. Cars which move off the racing line to defend can no longer retake the racing line – this better clarifies the one move rule.
Cars may no longer cut the track in order to save fuel or time without justifiable reason, i.e.cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or ‘in’ laps.
All tyres allocated to a driver may now be used on the first day of practice; formerly only three sets were permitted.
![Franco Colpinto [front] avoided Liam Lawson [back] at the start of the Australian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Franco-Colapinto-F1-Aus-GP-350x250.webp)
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