Teams agree on regulations

[Steven]

Here the new regulations that the teams agree to for introduction in 2003 and further on:

- Pit to car telemetry will be banned with immediate effect, as previously proposed;

- Car to pit telemetry will be banned from 2004 and a universal data logger will have to be used by all teams;

- The elimination of traction control will mean drivers will have to again be precise with throttle application

- Radio communication between teams and drivers will be allowed, provided the system is stand-alone and cannot be used to transmit data. The system must also be accessible to the FIA and other broadcasters. Authorities are discussing the introduction of a standardised radio communications device;

- A third car can only be used if a race car is written off. If the race car fails before the start the spare will have to start from pitlane as will the spare if there is a race stoppage inside the first two laps;

- Cars will be impounded after the Saturday afternoon qualifying session but can be stored in a team garage under steward supervision. Any work other than strict items on a list can only be carried out with authorisation by the stewards;

- Traction control and fully automatic gearchange systems will be banned, but only from the British Grand Prix midseason. This will give the outfits time to make changes to their systems and related mechanical components. Launch Control will also be outlawed at that time and teams must be able to demonstrate that they can operate foot clutches manually at the start. Currently launch control means the driver only has to press a button to get the car away from the line – no foot involvement is required;

The FIA also said there would be better sensors fitted to monitor driver aids in software of the ECUs and that software inspection would be available to the Governing Body if scrutineers suspected something amiss with any car. For those reasons, a universal ECU (black box) will not be required in 2004.

[Steven]

Most of the drasic changes in F1 for the 2003 season have been ratified for introduction, leaving out some small items, and some changes that will be postponed until the Great Britain grand prix to give the teams the time they need to adapt their equipment. This FIA meeting, the second to discuss changes for 2003 was made up not only of Technical Directors but also independent electronic experts and team electronics technicians.

[Steven]

Qualifications will take place one hour later than they did before, because a problem that many European television stations lost a lot of time due to the news.
The qualifying sessions will thus be held at 14:00 local time.