Formula 1’s teams and engine manufacturers will take some mandatory time off between seasons after the FIA confirmed the introduction of a winter shutdown.
Traditionally, there has been no enforced limit on the amount of work teams and manufacturers can do over the winter period, however a summer shutdown in the August break has been practiced.
The length of the shutdown period over the winter is yet to be confirmed by motorsport governing body.
The move comes amid growing hardship on F1 workers as the calendar continues to expand. In 2023, there is scheduled to be 23 grands prix – a record for the sport.
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Other changes agreed at the recent commission meeting saw the controversial fourth DRS zone in Melbourne reinstated, while there will be further adjustments to DRS zones in Bahrain, Jeddah, Baku and Miami to increase the spectacle.
Additionally, resurfacing jobs are set to take place in Baku and Miami.
The Losail Circuit in Qatar, which returns to the schedule this year following its debut toward the end of the 2021 campaign, is set to get a new pit building and paddock complex.
There are also minor changes coming to the Saudi Arabian track in Jeddah, with visibility being improved at a variety of corners.
Parc Ferme regulations have changed slightly too, with teams now less restricted as to what they can change during Sprint weekends.
The FIA says it has revised the request acceptance policy for Sprint weekends, which “allows a greater scope to change components that are prone to getting damaged, and greater use of self-declared Parc Fermé forms.
“This will apply for the whole Parc Fermé period from when the car leaves for Qualifying on Friday to when the car starts the race. This will be implemented via a Technical Directive.”
