Formula 1 cars are to feature lights on the back of the rear wing endplates from 2019, in a bid to enhance visibility during rain-affected Grands Prix.
Mercedes trialled the system during in-season testing in Barcelona earlier this year and on Friday the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council announced that they will be mandatory next season.
It is in addition to the existing rain light that is placed above the diffuser.
Other proposals from Formula 1’s Strategy Group and Commission were also ratified for 2019, including tweaks to the mirror regulations and rear wing height changes for rear view visibility and safety.
Onboard camera regulations will be modified in order to improve the TV spectacle, ostensibly as a reaction to the introduction of the halo this season, which has had an impact on the traditionally angled cockpit footage.
Minor modifications to the halo fairing will be made for safety reasons during a potential driver extraction.
Changes to the Safety Car regulations have also been made to ensure there is a consistent point at which drivers may overtake.
The official end-of-race signal will now be a chequered light panel, although the chequered flag will still be shown to the winning driver.
At this year’s Canadian Grand Prix the race was officially called after 68 of 70 laps after model Winnie Harlow was given erroneous instructions on when to wave the chequered flag, while a similar mistake was made in China in 2014.
Formula 1 teams will now be responsible for initial scrutineering of their cars; before the cars go on track for the first time, teams must declare conformity with all safety related matters.
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