F1 to introduce new wet-weather tyre among other key tweaks to the regulations

The Formula 1 Commission held their first meeting of 2023 in London on Tuesday ahead of the start of the new Formula 1 season, as regulatory changes including a new wet-weather tyre compound, circuit changes and other technical and financial matters were discussed.

With the teams and drivers soon travelling to Bahrain for the Official Pre-Season Test and opening Grand Prix, the Commission discussed and approved the key regulatory changes to be deployed over the year ahead, with the meeting chaired by Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali and newly-appointed FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis.

Following successful testing by Pirelli, with the support of teams, Pirelli have arrived at a wet weather tyre which is much more performant than the previous specification – this tyre does not require the use of tyre blankets.

This new tyre construction will be available from the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Work on the wet weather aero package, which was announced last year, continues, with teams able to work on the package outside their Aerodynamic Testing Restriction (ATR) limits and outside the cost cap. Testing for the new aero kit, which is being constructed to limit water spray, is to take place in Q2 or Q3 of 2023.

The Commission approved the proposal to relax the regulation of radio messages to and from the Drivers at all times during a Competition.

The Sprint race weekend are also set to undergo several sporting changes. In order to reduce the current excessive workload on FIA technical staff and scrutineers during events that include a Sprint session, the Commission approved a revised Parc Fermé request acceptance policy, in which Sprint weekend Parc Fermé 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.

The FIA confirmed various updates and changes to circuits for the coming season. In Saudi Arabia, significant changes have been to improve visibility on corner entry wherever possible. In Azerbaijan and Miami, drivers well encounter a completely resurfaced track. Zandvoort will also undergo a key change with the space between the pit stop positions set to be increased by 1.5m. Following its inaugural race in 2021, Qatar will welcome teams and drivers with a new pit building and paddock infrastructure.

The FIA has analysed DRS zones for 2022 and some changes made for 2023 in order to either facilitate overtaking, or make it harder in certain circuits where it was deemed not to be enough of a challenge. These changes will be implemented in Bahrain, Jeddah, Melbourne, Baku and Miami, and involve the adjustment of detection and activation zones, and additionally in Melbourne the 4th activation zone will be reinstated.

Minor amendments to the 2023 Sporting, Technical and Financial Regulations were unanimously approved.

Along with the existing summer shutdown, the sport will introduce a winter shutdown period for both Competitors and PU Manufacturers.

Furthermore, wording has been added to the rules to ensure that shorter races have reduced points even if they don’t finish with a suspended race.

Additionally, wording has also been added to the rules to allow easier access to the factories for the FIA auditing team, in order to police the adherence of the teams and PU Manufacturers to the Financial Regulations, and to the Operational limitations of the technical and Sporting Regulations.

An increase of the cost cap adjustment for additional races above 21 was agreed from 1.2M$ to 1.8M$ per race on the basis that the trend of the additional races being added to the calendar has been towards fly-aways, which are more expensive.

As usual, the World Motor Sport Council must approve all regulatory changes agreed on by the F1 Commission.