Formula 1 stewards will be able to hand out more lenient penalties to drivers who jump the start or miss the weighbridge under revised 2020 Sporting Regulations.
Under current regulations drivers who are deemed to have judged the start are given a drive-through penalty, with no leeway for other sanctions.
The most recent penalty was issued to Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen at the Russian Grand Prix.
Under updated 2020 regulations, published on Monday, it was revealed that the stewards have the discretion to hand out five- or 10-second time penalties, should they wish to do so.
Stewards will also have the ability to hand out more lenient sanctions for drivers who fail to stop at the weighbridge.
Current regulations mandate that any driver who misses the weighbridge at any stage of the weekend, and then whose car is worked upon, must start the race from the pit lane.
It was a misdemeanour that impacted Pierre Gasly in Azerbaijan and Sergio Perez in the United States.
Under tweaked wording the matter can now be referred to the stewards, giving them more scope to apply a lighter penalty should they wish to do so.
In another minor revision next year’s end-of-season tyre test is set to last for three days, rather than two, when teams will trial the new-for-2021 18-inch compounds for the first time.
Formula 1 currently holds a two-day test after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in which teams sample the compounds for the following season.
At least one of these test days must be set aside for a young driver.
Pirelli is permitted 25 days of private in-season running as per Formula 1 regulations and on Monday it was clarified that “with the exception of tyres, wheel rims and wheel rim covers, no car or subcomponent that is intended to provide technical information for the 2021 Technical Regulations will be permitted.”
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