Regulations

Number of Grands Prix
The Formula One World Championship consists of at least 8 but not more than 17 Grands Prix.

Race distance
Each Grand Prix race track shall cover the smallest number of laps exceeding a total distance of 305 kilometres (189.1 miles). The maximum race duration shall be two hours.

Application
New applicants shall deposit a guarantee of US $48 million repayable with interest in 12 equal monthly instalments as of the applicant's first entry in a Grand Prix. Should the applicant fail to enter, the guarantee shall lapse and be deemed forfeited. Should the applicant enter one year later than announced, the amount of US $12 million shall be retained and only the residual sum repaid.

Exchange of drivers
During the season each team may exchange its first driver once and its second driver three times per season. This shall not include cases of force majeure.

Test tracks
All Grand Prix tracks in England, Italy, Spain, and France are accepted as test tracks, together with other tracks duly certified and recognised by FIA although not used for Grand Prix events (eg Fiorano, Jerez, Mugello, Nogaro).

Test ban
There shall be no test drives between the last race of the season and 1 December of the respective year as well as 7 days prior to a Grand Prix. Only a function test covering a maximum distance of 50 kilometres (31 miles) is allowed during these periods.

Vehicle weight
Including the driver, oil and brake fluid, a Formula One racing car must weigh at least 600 kilograms (1323 lb).

Spare car
Teams may not use their spare car until the start of qualifying.

Tyres
- Number: Each driver may not use more than 32 dry and 28 rain tyres per Grand Prix. The dry tyres shall include two sets of so-called experimental tyres enabling the driver to test both rubber compounds, then opting in favour of one specific rubber compound prior to qualifying. This will leave the driver with 7 sets of tyres (28 tyres in all) and one rubber compound for the race weekend.

- Manufacturer: If two manufacturers supply tyres for Formula One, each of them must be in a position to equip 60 per cent of the teams on the grid if necessary. The corresponding figure with three manufacturers is at least 40 per cent.

Starting grid
The cars will be lined up on the starting grid according to their training times, staggered diagonally at a distance of 8 metres.

Lap restriction
In qualifying each driver shall not drive more than a maximum of 12 laps. In the other training sessions the number of laps is not limited.

Start
The pit lane will be opened 30 minutes prior to the start. The drivers have 15 minutes to take their positions on the starting grid. Any driver exceeding this time limit must start the race behind the field from the pit lane. The fuel tank may be filled up to five minutes prior to the start, the maximum filling quality on the starting grid itself being 12 litres. The tyres must be on the car at least five minutes prior to the start. Engines will be started one minute before the start. Upon receiving the 30-second signal, the field will start moving on the formation lap. There shall be no overtaking during the formation lap. The only exception is if a driver is delayed in his pre-start and has not been overtaken by the entire field, in which case he is allowed to once again take his original position on the starting grid. Otherwise the driver shall start from the last position on the grid. This also applies to drivers who provoke a false start. After each false or aborted start the next start shall be five minutes later. The race distance shall be reduced in that case by one lap on account of the additional formation lap. In the event of heavy rain the race may be started behind the safety car. In the case of a normal start, once the last car is in its starting position, all five lights will come on one after the other at the starting-lights signal, in intervals of one second. Once all the lights are extinguished the drivers may start. Should a driver on the grid indicate problems during the starting procedure, the procedure will be interrupted. This is signalled by yellow flags on the pit wall and a light flashing in the starting lights.

Safety car
Whenever the race director sends the safety car on to the track, the drivers shall be informed accordingly by "SC" signs round the track. The safety car shall take its position in front of the car leading the race. Cars possibly positioned between the safety car and the leading car in the race will receive a signal to pass and may move up to the field at the rear. One lap before the safety car returns to the pit lane the warning light shall be switched off to inform the drivers accordingly.

Procedure for stopping the race
If the race is stopped on the first two laps it shall be re-started. If the distance covered when stopping the race is between two laps and 75 per cent of the total race distance, the race shall also be re-started, but in this case in accordance with the safety car rules: The cars will start in the same order as when the first race was stopped. The time between cars shall not be considered, unless the car or cars involved was/were more than one lap behind. Should it not be possible to re-start the race, only half the usual number of points shall be awarded. Should the race be stopped after more than 75 per cent of the total distance, the full number of points shall be awarded.

Time penalties
Time penalities may be imposed in the following cases:

- Early start

- Driver causes a collision

- Driver forces a competitor off the track

- Driver ignores the blue flag three times

- Driver deliberately obstructs a competitor when overtaking

Time penalties shall be recommended by the race director. The final decision shall then be taken by the three race stewards. The team must be informed of such a penalty in writing. As soon as this has happened, the driver involved has three laps to comply with the penalty. If the penalty is imposed during the last five laps, 25 seconds shall be added to the driver's total race time.

Speed limit
During training the maximum speed allowed in the pit lane at all times is 60 km/h (37.2 mph). In the race itself the speed limit in the pit lane is 80 km/h (49.6 mph), with the exception of Monte Carlo where the speed limit in the pit lane is 60 km/h also during the race. Any violation of this speed limit in the race shall carry a 10-second time penalty, any violation during training a penalty of US $250.- per km/h.

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