F1 Regulations
Browse all Formula 1 regulations with simplified explanations. Search for specific rules or browse by category. Every regulation includes the official FIA text and a fan-friendly summary.
Showing 231 sporting regulations
View all categoriesTrack Limits
Track limits define where you can legally drive. The white lines are the track boundary. If all four wheels go beyond the white line, that's exceeding track limits. Repeated violations lead to warnings, then time penalties. Lap times set while exceeding limits may be deleted.
Blue Flags
Blue flags tell a driver they're about to be lapped by a faster car. The slower driver must let them through as soon as safely possible. Ignoring blue flags multiple times leads to a penalty - this keeps racing fair for leaders without interference from backmarkers.
Grid Penalties
Grid penalties drop you down the starting order. They can come from engine component changes, causing collisions, or other infractions. Multiple penalties add up. If your penalty exceeds available grid positions, you start at the back and remaining penalty may become a race time penalty.
DRS Activation
DRS (Drag Reduction System) opens the rear wing for a speed boost on straights. You can only use it in marked zones AND only if you're within 1 second of the car ahead at the detection point. It's disabled at race start and in wet conditions for safety.
Parc Ferme Conditions
Parc Ferme "locks" the car setup after qualifying begins. Teams cannot make significant changes between qualifying and the race - this ensures the car you qualify with is essentially the same car you race. Only limited repairs and minor adjustments (like front wing angle) are allowed.
Race Start Procedure
The race start follows a strict countdown. At the one-minute signal, all engines must start and team staff must leave. If a car has problems after the 15-second signal, the driver raises their arm and the car gets pushed to the pit lane while others proceed. This ensures safety and fairness in race starts.
Standing Start Lights Sequence
F1 uses a five-light system for starts. After the formation lap, cars line up on the grid and the pit exit closes. Five red lights come on one at a time (one second apart), then all go out simultaneously - that's the start signal. This system prevents jump starts and ensures fair races.
Red Flag - Race Suspension
A red flag stops the race completely. This happens for serious incidents, extreme weather, or unsafe conditions. All cars must slow down immediately and return to the pit lane. The race can restart once conditions improve, with various restart procedures depending on how far the race has gone.
Safety Car Deployment
The Safety Car is deployed when conditions are too dangerous for racing at full speed - usually after crashes, debris on track, or bad weather. All cars must slow down and line up behind it. Racing only resumes when Race Control decides it's safe and withdraws the Safety Car.
Virtual Safety Car
The Virtual Safety Car (VSC) is a "lite" version of the full Safety Car. It slows everyone down without bunching the field together. Drivers follow delta times on their steering wheels to maintain a set reduced pace. It's used for smaller incidents that need caution but don't require a full Safety Car.
Previous Car Definition
A 'Previous Car' is an F1 car built to the rules from up to 3 years before the current season. Teams can't sell or loan these cars to other teams or outside parties without getting permission from the FIA first.
MEDIA ACTIVITIES & OFFICIAL CEREMONIES
Article B10 covers all the official F1 activities that happen around race weekends, including driver and team appearances for media, fan events, car displays, and the formal procedures for qualifying, races, and podium celebrations. Teams and drivers must participate in these mandatory activities and follow the specific rules for how they're conducted.
Media Activities
This rule governs how media activities are organized and managed during the four days of track running at F1 events: the day before testing begins, plus the three official days of on-track running. It ensures proper coordination between the teams, drivers, media, and FIA throughout these activities.
Day before on track running
On the day before a race weekend starts, up to six drivers are required to participate in official media activities and fan meet-and-greets for a limited time. These drivers must do press conferences or team media sessions and spend time with fans, all within strict 30-minute to 1-hour time windows.
First day of on track running
Before the first practice session on Friday, both team cars must be displayed for fans to see up to one hour beforehand. The cars need to have all their main aerodynamic parts attached. Additionally, teams must participate in media presentations where a senior technical representative talks to journalists for at least 10 minutes, and the power unit manufacturer gives a 30-minute presentation.
Second day of on track running
On the second day of track running (Saturday), up to ten drivers can spend a maximum of 30 minutes each doing fan activities. Drivers knocked out in Q1 or Q2 must immediately do media interviews after being weighed. The top three qualifying finishers then go through official post-qualifying procedures and attend the press conference.
Third day of on track running
On race day, all drivers must participate in a 30-minute parade around the track two hours before the race starts, and then be at their grid positions at least 16 minutes before the formation lap. After the race, the top three finishers do the podium ceremony, while all other drivers must stick around for media interviews.
Podium Ceremony
The top three finishers and a representative from the winning constructor participate in the podium ceremony. Drivers must wear their racing suits on the podium, then change into team uniforms for interviews and the press conference that follow.
TRACK RUNNING OUTSIDE A COMPETITION
When F1 teams want to test their cars outside of official races (like in practice sessions, tire tests, or driver evaluation sessions), they must tell the FIA and other teams at least a week ahead of time. This ensures everyone knows about the testing activity and maintains fairness across the sport.
Reporting of Incident
The Race Director can report any incident that happens on track or any suspected rule break to the stewards for investigation. This is how potential violations get officially reviewed and potentially penalized.
Investigation of Incident
When stewards think something needs looking into during or after a race, they can start an investigation. If they decide to investigate, the involved drivers get a message and must stay at the circuit for up to 60 minutes while stewards review what happened. The stewards will only hand out a penalty if they believe a driver was clearly at fault for the incident.
Penalties for Incident during LTCS
If a driver causes an incident during practice sessions or qualifying, the stewards can punish them by deleting their lap times or moving them back on the grid. Most incidents are reviewed after the session ends, unless it's obviously wrong, and any grid penalties get applied to the next race or sprint qualifying.
Penalties for Incident during TTCS
If a driver causes an incident during the tire tire change session (TTCS), stewards can hand out various penalties ranging from small time additions to race disqualifications. If a driver gets 5 reprimands, they automatically get a 10-grid position penalty.
Procedure for Serving Penalty
When a driver receives a penalty, they're notified in writing. Time penalties (5 or 10 seconds) are added to their pit stop time or final race time, while drive-through or stop-and-go penalties must be served by entering the pits. Drivers can cross the pit entry line twice before committing to the pit stop, and penalties cannot be served during safety car or virtual safety car periods unless the driver is already entering the pit.
Appeal of Penalty
Certain penalties in F1 cannot be appealed to a higher authority. These include specific on-track violations, grid position drops, and certain steward decisions. Once these penalties are handed down, teams and drivers must accept them without the ability to formally challenge the decision.
General Principles & Provisions - Competitions Reserved
F1 races are exclusively for cars that meet the official Formula One technical specifications. Only vehicles built according to the detailed Technical Regulations are allowed to compete in Formula One competitions.
General Provisions for Track Running Outside a Competition
F1 teams must tell the FIA and other teams at least a week in advance before doing any official off-season testing or practice driving. They need to provide details about what car they're using, which drivers will be involved, where and when they're testing, and what they're trying to achieve. Teams can make changes to their plans up until 72 hours before the activity starts.
Protests Deposit
If a team wants to formally protest a decision or result in F1, they must follow the official protest procedures and pay a €2000 deposit upfront. This deposit requirement helps ensure that protests are serious and not frivolous.
Appeals Deposit
When a team wants to appeal a decision made by race officials, they must submit a formal appeal following the FIA Code and include a €6000 deposit. This deposit ensures that appeals are made seriously and not frivolously.
Petitions for Review Deposit
If a team wants to challenge a race decision through a formal petition for review, they must submit €2,000 along with their request. This deposit is required by the FIA to process the petition according to the official rules.
General Principles & Provisions - Competition Status
Each F1 race is classified as an 'international restricted competition,' which means it's governed by specific international motorsport rules and has limitations on who can participate and how. This classification ensures that F1 maintains its status as a premier international sporting event with standardized regulations across all races.
Provisions for TCC
TCC (Testing of Current Cars) sessions on European tracks are limited to a maximum of 9 hours per day, running between 9 AM and 7 PM. Only current-season F1 cars can be used (except for special tire testing), and drivers without a super license must use cars with a blue-green rear light.
TCC General Conditions
Teams can conduct TCC (Tyre Compatibility Check) testing on European circuits for a maximum of 9 continuous hours between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, but only when there's no championship competition happening. Teams need permission if they want to do it differently.
TCC Opportunities
Teams are limited to specific testing opportunities throughout the year: one private 5-day test and two public 3-day tests before the season starts, plus a 1-day test after the season ends. They can also do tire testing (up to 40 car days) and one 1-day substitute driver test. These rules prevent teams from gaining unfair advantages through excessive testing.
General Principles & Provisions - Minimum Cars
Formula 1 requires a minimum of 12 cars to be ready to race in a competition. If fewer than 12 cars are available (due to accidents, mechanical failures, or other issues), FIA officials have the authority to cancel the entire race event.
Provisions for TPC
Teams can run TPC (Tyre Practice Compound) testing with older car specifications for a maximum of nine hours per day between 9 AM and 7 PM. They're limited to 20 days of testing per year, with only one car used per day, and championship drivers can only accumulate a maximum of 1000 kilometers across no more than four days annually.
General Principles & Provisions - Competition Duration
An F1 competition officially starts 4 hours before the first practice session begins and ends when teams can no longer file protests or request technical inspections. This means the competition window extends beyond the actual race to allow for post-race reviews and challenges.
Provisions for TMC
TMC (Test/Marketing Cars) are special F1 cars that teams can run with minimal changes to test new tyres or components for upcoming seasons. These cars can only run for a maximum of nine hours per day between 9 AM and 7 PM, and must follow all safety procedures including red flag rules and fuel handling regulations.
Instructions And Communications To Competitors
The stewards and race director communicate official instructions to teams through special circulars and publish all results through an official document system. Any official decisions must be issued within 25 minutes and require acknowledgment from the teams.
THC - Car Specification
Teams can only conduct THC (Tyre Heat Control) on cars that meet the current technical regulations for that season. You can't use outdated or modified car designs to test tire heating procedures.
THC - Tyre Requirements
F1 teams can only use tyres that are specially made by the official Tyre Supplier for current races, or authentic period tyres if specifically allowed. They cannot use tyres from other manufacturers or modify standard tyres for use in competition.
General Principles & Provisions - Circuit Usage
Once the final practice session ends, teams cannot use the circuit for testing or other activities until the next competition begins. The same restriction applies after a Sprint race. On Race day, the circuit is off-limits until one hour before the pit lane officially opens for the race.
PE - Competitor Permissions
Each F1 team is allowed to do two practice sessions with their current car without it counting toward their track usage limits (TCC). This gives teams extra opportunities to test and develop their car during the season.
PE - Distance and Frequency Limits
Each F1 team can only conduct one Performance Evaluation (PE) test per day, and that test cannot exceed a distance of 200 kilometers. This limits how much testing teams can do in a single day to maintain competitive balance.
PE - Tyre Requirements
F1 teams can only use tyres that are specially made by the official tyre supplier for Formula 1. You can't use tyres from anywhere else or modify standard road tyres - they must be purpose-built racing tyres.
General Principles & Provisions - Track Grip Alteration
Teams cannot artificially change how slippery or grippy the track is. The only way to affect track grip is by driving on it normally—no cleaning, treating, or modifying the surface is allowed.
DE - FIA Discretionary Permissions
The FIA can give teams special permission to do two demonstration events (like parade laps or promotional drives) with their current race car without it counting as a track test. Teams can also do additional demonstration events organized by F1's commercial partner without penalty.
DE - Current Car Distance Limit
Demonstration events (DE) using current F1 cars are limited to a maximum of 15 kilometers total distance throughout the entire event. This means drivers cannot exceed this distance limit no matter how many laps or runs they complete during the demonstration.
DE - Previous Car Distance Limit
During a Demonstration Event (DE), if a car is being driven using another car's setup or specifications from an earlier model, that car cannot be driven for more than 50 kilometers total throughout the entire event. Once this distance limit is reached, the car can no longer be used in this configuration.
DE - FIA ECU Requirement
During a Demo Event (DE), all F1 cars must be equipped with the official FIA control unit (ECU) as specified in the technical regulations. This ensures that even during public demonstrations, cars meet the same electronic control standards as race cars.
DE - Tyre Requirements
During a Demonstration Event (DE), drivers can only use tyres that were specially manufactured by F1's official tyre supplier for that specific event. This ensures fairness and safety for all demonstration activities.
General Principles & Provisions - Medical Examination
F1 medical officials can ask any driver to undergo a medical check at any time during a race weekend. If a driver's car triggers an Impact Warning Light (indicating a significant crash), they must be ready for an immediate medical examination to ensure they're fit to continue racing.
Safety Requirements for Test Activities
Teams can only use their F1 cars for official test sessions (TCC, TPC, TMC, or PE) if the cars have passed all required safety tests and meet current safety standards. This ensures that any car running on track during these activities is properly inspected and won't put drivers or others at risk.
Impact Warning Light Protocol
If a driver is involved in an accident during a practice session, qualifying, or race and the impact detection system triggers a warning light, they must immediately go to the medical center at the track for a health check. This is a safety requirement to ensure the driver hasn't been injured.
Test Parts, Test Software and Component Changes
During post-season and tire testing sessions, teams can only use new parts or software if they directly help test the tires themselves. They can't use these tests to secretly develop and gather data on other car improvements unless the FIA specifically approves it.
Set-up Changes Provisions
Teams can make adjustments to their car's mechanical setup and driver controls during post-season tests and tire testing events. However, during special tire testing sessions, they can only make changes if those changes are actually needed to properly test the tires.
Additional Sensors and Logging
Teams cannot add extra sensors and data-logging equipment during young driver testing. However, during tire testing, they're allowed to use additional sensors specifically to measure tire performance, but only if both the tire supplier and the FIA approve it first.
FIA Delegates - Nomination
The FIA (Formula 1's governing body) appoints official delegates to oversee different aspects of each Grand Prix. These include mandatory roles like Safety, Medical, and Technical Delegates who ensure rules are followed, plus optional roles like the Race Director's deputy and safety car drivers who support race operations.
FIA Delegates - Role
FIA delegates are officials who monitor the race to make sure everyone follows the rules. They help other officials do their jobs and write reports about what happens during the competition.
FIA Delegates - Technical Delegate Responsibilities
The FIA's Technical Delegate is the official in charge of checking that all F1 cars are legal and follow the rules. They can inspect any car at any time during the race weekend and have the authority to make final decisions about technical compliance, overseeing any national inspectors.
Officials - FIA Nominated Officials
The FIA (Formula 1's governing body) appoints the officials who run each race. These officials include 3-4 stewards (judges who make decisions), a Race Director (who controls the race), and a Starter (who begins the race). All of them must have an FIA Super Licence, which means they're highly qualified and approved by the FIA.
Officials - ASN Nominated Officials
Each country's national motorsport authority (ASN) gets to pick one steward who must be a citizen of that country, and a clerk of the course who must hold an FIA Super Licence. These officials help run the race and make decisions during the event.
Officials - Clerk of the Course Authority
The Clerk of the Course and Race Director work together to manage the race, but the Race Director has the final say on important decisions. The Race Director controls when practice starts and stops, whether to stop the car or halt the session, how the race begins, and when to deploy the safety car.
Officials - Presence at Competition Start
Before the race starts, four important officials must be present: the Stewards (who make decisions about rule violations), the Race Director (who controls the race), the Clerk of the Course (who manages the event), and the Technical Delegate (who checks that cars meet regulations). This ensures proper oversight and fair competition from the very beginning.
Officials - Exceptional Circumstances
If stewards can't physically be at the race track when the competition starts, they must still be available and ready to respond immediately if needed. This ensures there's always someone in charge who can make decisions and handle any issues that come up during the race.
Officials - Communication Requirements
When cars are allowed on the track, the Race Director must stay in constant radio contact with the Clerk of the Course and the Stewards chairman to ensure everything runs smoothly. The Clerk of the Course also maintains radio communication with all the marshal posts around the circuit to coordinate safety and monitor the race.
Officials - Stewards Decision Making
The stewards (officials who make decisions on rule violations) can use video footage and electronic tools to help them make fair decisions about what happened during a race. They have the authority to overturn the decisions made by on-track judges if they believe the evidence shows something different.
Insurance - Third Party Coverage
The race organizer (promoter) is legally required to purchase insurance that covers everyone involved in the race—drivers, teams, and all their staff. This protects everyone in case of accidents or injuries during the event.
Insurance - Policy Requirements
Before each F1 race, the promoter (track organizer) must provide proof of proper insurance to the FIA at least 90 days in advance. This insurance must meet both local laws and FIA standards, and teams can request to see the policy details if they want to verify coverage.
Insurance - Additional Coverage
The race promoter must carry insurance to cover third-party damage (like damage to spectators or property), which is separate from the personal insurance that drivers carry. However, drivers aren't considered third parties to each other, meaning this rule doesn't cover driver-to-driver incidents.
Official Meetings - Sprint Competition Schedule
When a sprint race is scheduled, F1 holds three official meetings at specific times during the weekend. The first meeting happens 3 hours before practice starts and only team managers attend. The second and third meetings occur after practice and sprint qualifying respectively, with both drivers and team managers required to attend.
Official Meetings - Non-Sprint Competition Schedule
On regular race weekends without sprint races, F1 holds two official meetings. The first meeting happens 3 hours before practice starts and only team managers need to attend. The second meeting occurs 1.5 hours after the final practice session ends and requires both drivers and team managers to be present.
Official Meetings - Additional Meeting
The Race Director can call an extra meeting up to 3 hours before the race starts if they think it's necessary. Teams must be told about this meeting at least 5 hours in advance, and all drivers and team managers are required to attend.
General Safety - Pit Lane and Track Discipline
The safety rules for the pit lane and on the track are basically the same whether it's a practice session, qualifying, or the actual race. The only exceptions are when the sporting rules specifically say something different for certain sessions.
General Safety - Heat Hazard
When it's extremely hot (Heat Index above 31°C), F1 declares a Heat Hazard to protect drivers. Teams must install special cooling system components in their cars, and the cars are allowed extra weight to accommodate this safety equipment.
General Safety - Stopped Cars
If a car breaks down or stops on the track, the safety marshals will quickly remove it to keep the race safe. Drivers are not allowed to deliberately stop their cars on track unless they have a very good reason, like a mechanical failure.
General Safety - Touching Stopped Cars
Only the driver is allowed to touch their car when it's stopped on the track, unless the car is in the paddock, garage, pit lane, or on the starting grid where team members can work on it. This rule keeps track areas safe and ensures only authorized people handle stopped vehicles.
General Safety - Track Access Restrictions
The track and pit areas are restricted zones during specific times around practice, qualifying, and races. Only drivers, official team members, and authorized personnel are allowed in these areas to keep everyone safe and prevent interference with the competition.
General Safety - Car Safety Lights
When F1 cars leave the pit lane in wet or intermediate tire conditions, their rear safety lights must be working properly. The side lights are mandatory, while the center rear light can be controlled at the Race Director's discretion. This ensures other cars can see each other safely during poor visibility conditions.
General Safety - Fire Extinguishers
The track organizers must provide each F1 team with at least two fire extinguishers that are 5kg in size and in working condition. This is a crucial safety measure to quickly respond to any fire incidents that might occur during the event.
General Safety - Animals Prohibition
Animals are not allowed in any area of the F1 race venue—including the track, pit lane, paddock, and grandstands—except for specially authorized security dogs used by the FIA. This rule keeps both animals and people safe during the high-speed, high-stress racing environment.
General Safety - Team Members in Signalling Area
Each F1 team can have a maximum of 12 people in the signalling area (the pit lane section where they communicate with their driver) during all racing events. This includes practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the main race. The rule keeps the pit lane organized and safe.
General Safety - Refuelling
During F1 races, teams can only refuel their cars in specific garages with strict safety controls. The fuel must flow at a maximum rate of 0.8 litres per second, and everyone involved must wear proper safety gear, have a fire extinguisher ready, and ensure all equipment is properly grounded to prevent accidents.
Pit Lane - Designated Garage Areas
The FIA assigns pit garages and pit lane spaces equally to all teams. Teams must follow strict rules in the pit lane: no painting lines or adding special grip surfaces, no equipment blocking the fast lane, no powered lifts allowed, and all work must happen in the designated inner lane area.
Pit Lane - Safety Requirements
Teams must ensure their cars are safe before sending them back onto the track and can't release them if they might hit someone or damage property. Only essential pit crew members are allowed in the pit lane, and everyone working there must wear helmets. Additionally, drivers under 16 years old are restricted from being in the pit lane during certain times.
Pit Lane - Driving Rules
When a car is in the pit lane, drivers must stay under 80km/h and can only move forward—no reversing with the engine. Cars must get a green light from pit lane officials before they're allowed to exit and rejoin the track.
Pit Lane - Closing
When the Race Director closes the pit lane for safety reasons, drivers can only enter if they need essential repairs. If a driver enters a closed pit lane for any other reason, they receive a Stop-and-Go Penalty.
Changes Of Driver - Maximum Drivers
Each F1 team can use a maximum of four different drivers across the entire season in race events. Any driver who races, whether they're a regular team member or a substitute, can earn Championship points for themselves and contribute to the team's points total.
Changes Of Driver - Change Procedures
Teams can change their driver before qualifying starts at regular races, but they need permission from the stewards first. The exact timing of when a driver change can happen depends on the specific race format being used.
Abandonment of Car - Risk and Damage Conditions
If a driver's car has a dangerous component or serious damage that would cause problems getting back to the pits, they must stop immediately. The Race Director can also force a driver to stop if the car has major structural damage that makes it unsafe to continue.
Abandoned Car Requirements
When a driver needs to abandon their car during a race or session, they must leave it in a safe state: the car must be in neutral (or clutch disengaged), the ERS energy recovery system must be turned off, and the steering wheel must remain attached. This ensures the car is safe for marshals to handle and recover.
Abandoned Car Withdrawal from Session
If a driver abandons their car on the track during a race or qualifying session, they're automatically withdrawn from that session. However, if the car is abandoned during a red flag or technical delay, the driver may rejoin when racing resumes—but only if the car wasn't abandoned due to a breakdown, damage, or to gain a strategic advantage.
Free Practice Sessions - Standard Format
On Friday, teams get two one-hour practice sessions (FP1 and FP2) with a 2-3 hour break between them to test their cars and strategies. If extra tire compounds are available, FP2 extends to 90 minutes. Saturday morning brings FP3, another one-hour session that must start at least 18 hours after FP2 ends.
Free Practice Sessions - Alternative Format
On the first day of track running at a Grand Prix weekend, teams get one practice session called FP1 that lasts for 1 hour. This gives drivers and teams a chance to familiarize themselves with the track, test their cars, and gather data before the more important qualifying and race sessions.
Free Practice Session Classification
Free Practice sessions are ranked based on each driver's fastest single lap time. The driver with the quickest lap gets first place, the second quickest gets second place, and so on down the grid.
Sprint Qualifying Session
Sprint Qualifying is a short qualifying session that happens on Friday, about 2.5 to 3.5 hours after the first practice session ends. It determines the starting grid positions for the Sprint race that takes place later that day.
Sprint Qualifying Format
Sprint Qualifying has three knockout rounds where drivers compete in progressively shorter sessions. In SQ1 and SQ2, the five slowest cars are eliminated each round with their lap times wiped clean, while SQ3 features the remaining 10 cars competing without eliminations.
Sprint Qualifying Classification
The Sprint Qualifying grid is set by ranking the 20 drivers based on their performance across three qualifying sessions. The top 10 fastest drivers from SQ3 fill positions 1-10, then the 5 drivers eliminated in SQ2 take positions 11-15, and the 5 drivers eliminated in SQ1 take positions 16-20. If a driver is too slow in SQ1 (more than 7% slower than the fastest time) or doesn't complete a lap, they don't qualify.
Sprint Session
A Sprint Session is a shorter race that takes place on the second day of competition at certain F1 events (called Alternative Format Competitions). It's a way to add variety to the weekend and gives teams another chance to score points and battle for position before the main Sunday race.
Sprint Session Distance
A Sprint race must be long enough to cover at least 100 kilometers and consist of complete laps. If the race starts behind a safety car, the number of laps is reduced to account for the extra laps driven under safety car conditions.
Sprint Session Duration
A sprint session normally ends after 1 hour once the scheduled distance is completed. If the session is stopped due to accidents or weather, that pause time is added back, but the total session cannot exceed 1.5 hours. If there's a safety car formation lap before the race starts, the 1.5-hour clock begins when the green lights turn on.
Grid for Sprint Session
The Sprint grid is determined by how drivers performed in Sprint Qualifying, with any penalties applied to their starting positions. The official grid order is published twice—a provisional version 2 hours before the Sprint starts, and a final version 1 hour before—giving teams time to prepare. If a driver can't compete, they must tell the stewards at least 1 hour 15 minutes before the Sprint begins.
Sprint Session Classification
In a sprint race, the winner is whoever completes the scheduled distance in the fastest time. All other cars are ranked by how many laps they completed and the order they crossed the finish line. However, if a car completes fewer than 90% of the winner's lap count, they won't be officially classified in the results.
Race Qualifying Session
Qualifying is the session where drivers compete to determine their starting positions for the race. It normally happens on the second day of a Grand Prix weekend, either 2-3 hours after the final practice session (FP3) or 3-4 hours after the Sprint race, depending on the event format.
Race Qualifying Format
In Q1, drivers have 18 minutes to set their fastest lap. The 5 slowest cars are knocked out and won't advance to Q2. Importantly, all lap times are erased when Q1 ends, so drivers must re-establish their fastest times in the next qualifying session.
Race Duration
An F1 race runs for a scheduled distance and officially starts when the green lights turn on. The race ends when the leader crosses the finish line after the two-hour time limit has been reached, ensuring no race goes on indefinitely.
Grid for the Race Session
The starting grid for the race is determined by how drivers finish in qualifying, with adjustments made for any penalties they've received. The FIA arranges drivers in order based on their qualifying results and then applies penalties that might move them backward on the grid.
Race Session Classification
The winner of a race is the driver who completes the scheduled distance in the least amount of time. However, if a driver finishes the race but hasn't completed at least 90% of the laps that the winner completed, they won't be classified in the official results.
Initial Scrutineering
Before each Grand Prix weekend begins, teams must inspect their cars and officially declare them as ready to race. They have a 4-hour window starting 4 hours before the first practice session to complete this inspection, and must submit their declaration at least 2 hours before practice begins.
Scrutineers Powers
FIA scrutineers have the authority to inspect cars whenever they want to make sure they follow F1 rules. They can take the car apart to check it, ask teams to pay for inspection costs, and collect parts or samples for testing purposes.
Weighing After LTCS
After any red flag (LTCS) during Sprint Qualifying or regular Qualifying, all cars must be weighed to ensure they meet the minimum weight requirement. Drivers must go to the FIA garage and turn off their engines when instructed. All cars that make it to Q3 or SQ3 will definitely be weighed.
Covering of Components Standard Format
At Standard Format races, teams must cover and seal their cars within 3 hours after FP2 (Free Practice 2) ends. The cover requirement applies to most car components, but excludes the floor, nose, front wing, and rear wing, which can remain exposed for inspection.
Covering of Components Alternative Format
After Sprint Qualifying in Alternative Format races, teams must cover their cars and prepare them for FIA inspection seals within 2 hours. These seals can be removed 3 hours before the Sprint race starts, allowing teams time to work on their cars before the race begins.
Covering of Components All Competitions
After qualifying ends, teams must cover their cars and prepare them for official FIA seals within two hours. These seals can be removed five hours before the race starts, allowing teams time to prepare without tampering with sealed components.
Pre-Sprint & Pre-Race Parc Fermé Entry
Once a car leaves the pit lane for the first time during Sprint Qualifying or Qualifying, it enters 'parc fermé' – a locked-down state where teams cannot make changes to the car. The car must stay locked down until the race or sprint actually starts. This ensures fair competition by preventing last-minute adjustments.
Parc Fermé Permitted Work
Once a car enters parc fermé (the sealed technical area after qualifying or the race), teams can only perform specific maintenance work that's listed in the official rulebook. Any other modifications are forbidden unless the car is properly covered and sealed according to the regulations.
Parc Fermé Breach Penalty
Once a car enters parc fermé (the restricted area after qualifying), teams cannot make any changes to the car or adjust its suspension. If they break this rule, the driver must start the race from the pit lane instead of their qualifying position, which is a significant disadvantage.
Post Sprint & Post Race Parc Fermé Access
After a Sprint or race ends, the car goes into a special restricted area called parc fermé. Only FIA officials are allowed to enter this area, and nobody can touch or work on the cars unless an official gives them permission. This ensures all cars are kept in their race condition for inspection.
LTCS General Provisions
Drivers cannot stop on the track without a valid reason or block other drivers during Limited Test Circuit Sessions (LTCS). If they do, they'll face penalties similar to those used in regular F1 races.
LTCS Red Flag Procedure
If the Race Director needs to stop a race session, red flags are shown at all marshal posts around the track. All drivers must immediately slow down and carefully drive back to the pit lane.
LTCS Interruption
The Race Director can stop LTCS (Like The Car Setup) sessions whenever needed to keep things safe and fair. If a Sprint Qualifying or Qualifying session gets interrupted, the session time will be extended to make up for the lost time—but regular race sessions won't get extra time.
Formation Lap Behind Safety Car Due to Track Conditions
If the track is too wet or dangerous at the scheduled race start time, F1 can have drivers do their formation lap behind the safety car instead of on a normal grid. The Race Director can either force everyone to use wet-weather tyres (deciding 10 minutes before the start) or let drivers choose their tyres (deciding 5 minutes before the start).
Safety Car Pace and Maximum Gap
When the Safety Car leads the field during a race restart, all drivers must follow in their grid order with no more than 10 car lengths between each car. If visibility is poor, the Race Director can increase this gap to 20 car lengths. The Safety Car stays out until racing conditions are safe enough to resume normal competition.
Pit Lane Speed Limit Behind Safety Car
When the race starts and drivers leave the grid, they must drive slowly through the pit lane until they pass the pole position marker on the track. This safety rule ensures drivers don't speed through the pit lane area where mechanics and officials are working.
Pit Lane Starters Join Formation Lap Behind Safety Car
If a car starts from the pit lane, it has to wait until all the cars on the track have passed the end of the pit lane before joining the formation lap. It then completes all the formation laps with everyone else and must re-enter the pit lane in the correct order when the safety car comes back in.
Car Entering Pit Lane During Safety Car Formation Lap
If a car enters the pit lane during the formation lap (the parade lap before the race starts), it's allowed to rejoin the race, but it must start the race from the back of the pit lane exit rather than from its original grid position. The only exception is if the safety car itself uses the pit lane.
Overtaking During Safety Car Formation Lap
During the formation lap behind the safety car, drivers are allowed to overtake other cars, but only in specific situations—like if a car was delayed leaving the grid, has an obvious mechanical problem, or fell behind during the lap. The key rule: you can only pass to get back to your original starting position, not to gain an advantage.
Race Shortened by Number of Safety Car Laps
If a race or sprint starts behind the safety car instead of a normal formation lap, the total number of laps will be reduced. The race distance is shortened by the number of safety car laps that were used minus one lap.
Standing Start After Safety Car Formation Lap
If the track dries out enough during safety car laps, the FIA signals a standing start by sending the 'STANDING START' message and turning off the safety car's orange lights. The lead car can then slow down as much as needed to let the field spread out before everyone returns to their grid positions for a proper race restart.
Use of Pit Lane during VSC Deployment
During a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) that happens while the track is closed for cleaning (TTCS), drivers cannot pit unless they need to change their tires. This prevents teams from gaining an unfair advantage by doing other pit work while the safety car is neutralizing the field.
Withdrawal of VSC
When the Race Director decides it's safe to end the Virtual Safety Car period, they send a 'VSC ENDING' message to all teams. Between 10-15 seconds later, the VSC light turns green, and drivers can immediately resume racing at full speed.
Lap Counting During VSC
When a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) is being used during a race, every lap that drivers complete still counts as a full lap toward the race distance. This means the race won't be shortened just because safety conditions require slower speeds.
Safety Car (SC)
The Safety Car is deployed when there's a dangerous situation on the track involving drivers or officials, but it's not serious enough to stop the race completely. It brings all the cars together at a controlled speed while the danger is being cleared.
Deployment of Safety Car
The Race Director can deploy the Safety Car to neutralize dangerous situations on track (like crashes or debris). When this happens, all teams receive an official 'SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED' message to inform them of the decision.
During a SC Deployment
When the safety car is deployed, all drivers must slow down and follow it in an orderly line, staying no more than ten car lengths apart from each other. Drivers cannot drive slowly in a weird way, drive unpredictably, or do anything dangerous—they simply need to maintain a steady, safe pace behind the safety car.
Use of Pit Lane during a SC Deployment
During a Safety Car period, the Race Director can decide to route all cars through the pit lane instead of the normal track. When this happens, a signal is displayed at the pit entry and all teams are notified through the official messaging system so they know what's happening.
Order of Cars Behind the SC
When the Safety Car's green light turns on, it tells the drivers who are stuck between the Safety Car and the race leader that they must pass the Safety Car and rejoin the race. This allows lapped cars to get back into the proper racing order.
Duration of SC Period
The safety car must stay on track until the race leader is directly behind it and all other remaining cars are lined up in order behind the leader. Once the Race Director decides it's safe, they send a message and the safety car returns to the pits to end the safety car period.
Withdrawal of Safety Car
When the Race Director believes the track is safe again, they notify all teams that the safety car will come in at the end of that lap. The safety car's orange lights turn off to signal the end of the safety car period, and racing resumes normally.
Lap Counting During Safety Car Deployment
When the safety car is deployed during a race, laps that drivers complete while following it still count as official race laps toward the total race distance. However, there are special circumstances outlined in Article B5.10 where different rules might apply instead.
Safety Car on Last Lap
If the safety car is still out on the final lap of the race, it will pull into the pit lane at the end of that lap so the race can finish under normal conditions. The only exception is if the Race Director decides the safety car needs to stay out for safety reasons even after the race ends.
Fuel Management During Reconnaissance Lap
Once a car leaves the pit lane to do a reconnaissance lap (practice run before the actual session), the team cannot add fuel to it or remove fuel from it until the session officially ends. This ensures fair competition by preventing teams from strategically adjusting fuel loads during these practice laps.
Suspension Procedure(s)
This article explains the official procedures that race control can use to pause or stop the starting procedure, a timed traffic control system (TTCS), or a resumption procedure during a race. These suspensions help manage safety situations and ensure fair racing conditions for all competitors.
Suspension of a Starting Procedure
If track conditions become too dangerous after the safety car formation laps have started, race control can suspend the start by sending a 'STARTING PROCEDURE SUSPENDED' message to all teams and displaying red flags. This gives officials time to assess whether it's safe to begin the race.
Suspension of Suspending a TTCS
If the Race Director decides conditions are unsafe or there's a serious incident, they can suspend either a sprint race or main race. When this happens, all teams get a message, and red flags are waved at every marshal post and the finish line to tell drivers to stop racing immediately.
Suspension of a Resumption Procedure
If the race is restarting behind the safety car but the track becomes too dangerous (wet, debris, etc.), the FIA can immediately stop the restart procedure and send out a 'RESUMPTION PROCEDURE SUSPENDED' message to all teams. This means the safety car stays out and another attempt to restart will be made once conditions improve.
Provisions Applicable During a Suspension
During a suspension of track activity, mechanics can work on cars once they're safely parked in the Fast Lane, but only on specific pre-approved items. This work can't interfere with getting the cars ready to race again quickly when the suspension is lifted.
Resumption Procedure Suspended
If the track becomes too dangerous to continue racing after the safety car has been deployed, officials will halt the race completely. Red flags go up everywhere, lights flash on the gantry, and all cars must immediately head to the pit lane to stop.
Tyre Blankets Restriction
Teams cannot use tyre blankets (heated covers that keep tyres warm) in the pit lane during normal racing conditions. The blankets must be removed before bringing the tyres to the pit stop area. The only exception is when there's a temporary cessation of the race, where specific rules in Article B5.14 allow their use.
Resumption Procedure
Article B5.15 explains how F1 organizes and restarts the race when it's suspended (like during bad weather or accidents). It covers the specific order cars must line up in and the procedures officials follow to get racing going again safely.
Ordering of Cars During a Suspension
When a race is temporarily stopped (suspended), the FIA will arrange all the cars in their proper running order before the race restarts. The cars must then line up in the Fast Pit Lane in this exact order before the race resumes.
During a Suspension and Resuming a TTCS
When a race or session is paused (suspended), teams are allowed to work on their cars in the designated Fast Lane pit area, but they can only make specific repairs or adjustments that are permitted by the rules. Once officials know when the session will restart, they'll announce the resumption time to all teams through the official messaging system.
Overtaking during the laps behind the safety car at the resumption
During safety car periods and formation laps, drivers can only overtake in limited situations: to pass cars that are obviously broken down, to pass slow cars while leaving the fast lane, or to overtake in the pit lane. The main goal is to restore the original starting order, not to gain positions.
Standing Start Resumption Procedure
When the Race Director decides conditions are safe after a safety car period, they send a 'STANDING START' message to all drivers. The pit lane closes, the safety car's orange lights turn off, and the race is about to restart. The lead driver behind the safety car can now control the pace and create gaps larger than normally allowed as the field prepares to race.
Rolling Start Resumption Procedure
When the Race Director decides conditions are safe enough, they signal a rolling start to resume the race. The safety car pulls in, the pit lane closes, and the lead driver can control the restart pace and choose to drop back if needed before the race officially begins.
If the TTCS cannot be resumed
If a race under the TTCS (Time Certain To Complete System) cannot be restarted after being suspended, the official results will be based on the standings from two laps before the suspension happened. This ensures a fair result even if the race cannot continue.
Car Assistance Outside Pit Lane
If your car breaks down anywhere outside the pit lane during a race and mechanics physically push it to get it moving again, you could be disqualified from that race. There are only a couple of specific exceptions to this rule.
Finishing Procedure
The chequered flag is waved at the finish line when the race leader completes the full required distance. This flag signals the official end of the race or sprint session. Once it's shown, the race is over regardless of where other cars are on track.
End-of-session signal timing
If the race ends early (before all scheduled laps are completed), the official result is based on when the leader crossed the finish line just before the end signal was given. If the end signal is delayed, the race is still considered finished at its originally scheduled time.
Post-race procedure and parc fermé
After the race ends, all cars must go directly to parc fermé (the secure area) without stopping or picking anything up. The winner can celebrate, but only if it's safe, doesn't suggest the car broke rules, and doesn't delay the podium ceremony.
FIA Safety Car Driver and Observer
The safety car is driven by an official FIA driver and has an observer on board who can identify all the racing cars. This observer stays in constant radio contact with race control to help manage safety situations effectively.
Oil Tank Mass Declaration
Teams must tell the FIA how much oil is in each of their car's oil tanks (except the main one) at least one hour before the race starts. This is a technical declaration requirement to ensure teams are following the regulations.
Pit Wall Personnel During Start
During the start of a race, teams must keep their pit wall clear of unnecessary people. Only authorized team staff, race officials, and fire marshals are allowed in this area unless the Race Director gives special permission.
Safety Car Position Before Reconnaissance Lap
Before drivers do their warm-up lap, the safety car exits the pit lane and positions itself at the front of the grid. It stays there until the 5-minute warning signal, then it does its own lap around the track to get into position for the start.
Pit Exit Opening for Reconnaissance Laps
Before the race officially starts, all drivers are allowed to leave the pit lane and do practice laps to familiarize themselves with track conditions. When leaving the pit lane during this time, drivers must maintain a steady speed and constant throttle—no accelerating or decelerating.
Cars Return to Grid After Reconnaissance Laps
After the warm-up laps before the race start, all cars that will start from the grid must return and line up in their correct starting positions with engines off. Meanwhile, any cars that have to start from the pit lane must head there instead.
Car Must Complete Reconnaissance Lap Under Own Power
Before the race starts, each car must complete a practice lap on the track under its own power and make it to the starting grid without being towed or pushed. If a car can't do this, it won't be allowed to start the race from the grid.
Car in Pit Lane When Exit Closes
If a car is still in the pit lane when it closes after the warm-up laps, the driver can still start the race from the end of the pit lane instead of the grid, but only if they drove into the pit lane on their own power rather than being towed.
Pit Lane Starters Cannot Leave Garage Before Pit Exit Close
If a driver has to start the race from the pit lane, they must keep their car in their garage until the pit lane exit is officially closed just before the race begins. Once the pit lane closes, they need to drive out and line up in the Fast Lane with the other pit lane starters.
Pit Lane Starter Order
When multiple cars start from the pit lane, they must line up in the order determined by the official starting grid positions (either for the Sprint or the Race). However, if a car doesn't reach the pit lane exit by the 5-minute warning signal, it must start behind all the cars that are already positioned at the pit exit.
Fast Lane Work Before Formation Lap
Teams have a limited window to work on their cars in the Fast Lane before the formation lap begins. They must stop all work and clear out 15 seconds before the formation lap starts, and can only do specific tasks like starting the engine, adjusting the front wing, changing wheels, or making driver comfort adjustments.
Delayed Start Procedure
If there's a problem before the race officially starts (like bad weather or track hazards), the Race Director can delay the start. When this happens, orange lights flash on the gantry and a 'DELAYED START' sign appears to tell everyone to wait.
Delayed Start Restart at Ten Minute Signal
If the F1 race start is delayed, the officials will restart the starting procedure when the 10-minute signal is given. This gives teams and drivers a clear moment to prepare for another attempt at getting the race underway.
Start Announcement Signals
Before a race starts, F1 officials give drivers warning signals at set intervals—10 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes, 1 minute, and 15 seconds before the formation lap begins. Each signal includes both a visual display and an audible (sound) warning so drivers know the race is about to start.
Ten Minute Signal Procedure
When the 10-minute signal is given before the race start, all non-essential people must clear the grid, leaving only drivers, officials, and team staff. If the track is too wet or dangerous, the race can start behind the safety car with all cars required to use wet-weather tires.
Five Minute Signal Wheels and Blankets
When the 5-minute signal is given before the race start, all cars must have their wheels properly attached. Teams must also unplug their tire blankets (heating devices) at this point and cannot plug them back in unless the start is delayed or cancelled.
Three Minute Signal Personnel Limit
When the three-minute warning signal is given before the race start, each team can only have a maximum of 16 people on the grid. This limit ensures the grid doesn't become overcrowded and maintains safety and organization during the final moments before the race begins.
One Minute Signal and Fifteen Second Signal
When the one-minute signal is given, teams must start their engines. By the fifteen-second signal, all team personnel must be completely off the grid. If any team member touches the car or its equipment after the fifteen-second signal, the driver must start the race from the pit lane instead of the grid, and will receive a drive-through penalty.
Car Moved from Grid Cannot Return
If a car leaves its grid position before the formation lap starts (usually to go to the pit lane or garage for repairs), it cannot return to the grid. The car must start from the pit lane instead.
Green Lights Signal Formation Lap Start
When the green lights turn on at the start of the race, all drivers who can move safely leave the grid and start the formation lap, with the pole position driver in front. Once all the cars have passed the end of the pit lane, the pit exit opens so any drivers starting from the pit lane can join the formation lap in the correct order.
Pit Lane Speed Limit on Grid Departure
When drivers leave the starting grid at the beginning of a race, they must drive slowly through the pit lane speed limit zone until they pass the pole position marker. This safety rule ensures controlled conditions during the critical first moments of the race.
Practice Starts Forbidden During Formation Lap
During the formation lap (the lap before the race start), drivers cannot practice their starting technique or test their car's launch control. All cars must stay tightly bunched together as a group to maintain an orderly formation heading to the grid.
Overtaking During Formation Lap
During the formation lap (the lap before the race starts), drivers can only pass another car if that car is going too slowly and blocking the field. When they do overtake, they must pass only to get back to their correct starting position—no gaining extra positions.
Immobilised Car on Grid Procedure
If a car breaks down and can't move on the starting grid, the driver raises their hands to signal the problem. Marshals wave yellow flags to warn other drivers and then push the broken car into the pit lane. The Race Director will then decide whether to start the race normally, abort it, or run an extra formation lap.
Standing Start Procedure with Red Lights
After the formation lap, drivers line up on the grid with their engines running. The race starts when five red lights on the gantry turn on one after another (one per second), then all suddenly turn off—that's the signal to go!
Pit Lane Starters Procedure at Formation Lap End
Cars that start from the pit lane must return to the pit lane at a steady speed with constant throttle after the formation lap(s). They then line up in the fast lane in the order they arrived, with their engines still running, ready to start the race.
Aborted Start Procedure
If something unsafe happens before the race officially starts, the Race Director can cancel the start attempt. Orange lights flash and an 'ABORTED START' message appears on the board to tell everyone. Teams are then allowed back on the grid to prepare for the next start attempt.
Driver Causing Aborted Start Must Start from Pit Lane
If a driver causes a false start and gets another chance to start the race, they must start from the pit lane instead of their grid position. If they don't follow this rule, they'll receive a Stop-and-Go penalty.
Race Shortened by One Lap Per Aborted Start
If the race start is aborted (called off and restarted) multiple times, the total number of laps in the race will be reduced by one lap for each aborted start that occurs. This ensures the race doesn't go on too long due to repeated restart attempts.
Extra Formation Lap Procedure
Sometimes before the race starts, a problem might occur that doesn't require canceling the whole race. If this happens, the Race Director can order all cars to do an extra warm-up lap. Orange lights and a board will tell drivers there's an extra formation lap, then green lights signal them to go.
Immobilised Car Extra Formation Lap Procedure
If a car breaks down on the grid and needs to be pushed away, causing an extra formation lap, the team gets a chance to fix the problem. If they succeed, the car can start the race from the end of the pit lane instead of the grid, with the starting order determined by which car reaches the pit lane exit first.
Multiple Extra Formation Laps Possible
If a problem occurs on the grid that isn't serious enough to cancel the start completely, the Race Director can order the drivers to do another warm-up lap before attempting to start again. This can happen multiple times if needed until the issue is resolved.
Driver Causing Extra Formation Lap Must Start from Pit Lane
If a driver causes the field to do an extra formation lap (like by breaking down or causing a problem), they must start the race from the pit lane exit instead of the grid. If they don't follow this rule, they'll get a Stop-and-Go penalty during the race.
Race Shortened by One Lap Per Extra Formation Lap
If there are extra formation laps due to track conditions or incidents, the race will be shortened by one lap for each extra lap that was completed. This means if there are 2 extra formation laps, the race distance is reduced by 2 laps from the normal distance.
Race Counts for Championship Despite Shortening
Even if a race gets shortened multiple times due to weather, accidents, or other stoppages, it still counts as a full race for the championship. Drivers earn the same points regardless of how much shorter the race ends up being compared to the original planned distance.
Supply Of Tyres
F1 has one official tyre supplier who must make three different types of dry-weather tyres, plus intermediate and wet-weather tyres available to all teams. Each tyre type looks visibly different so everyone knows which compound is being used. Sometimes extra experimental tyres are tested during races.
Information Prior to a Competition
The FIA tells teams about tire options at different times before a race. Teams get information about tire testing allocations 4 weeks early, tire specifications and mandatory choices 2 weeks early, and final tire availability details just 1 week before the race.
Conditions of Supply
F1 teams must use their tyres exactly as the FIA and tyre supplier instruct. Tyres can only be used on the specific car they were made for, except during testing at certain high-grade circuits or for special manufacturer testing approved by the FIA.
Control & Allocation of Tyres
Before an F1 race weekend starts, teams must show all their tires to the official Technical Delegate so they can be inspected and assigned. This ensures fair competition and that everyone is using approved equipment. The only exception is if something unexpected happens beyond the team's control.
Complete set of tyres definition
A complete set of tyres means all four tyres on a car (two front, two rear) must be the same type and specification. You can't mix different tyre compounds or specifications on your car.
Use & Return of Tyres
Drivers must use the correct F1 tyres specified by the regulations during races. If a driver accidentally uses the wrong tyres or mismatched sets, they only get two chances to cross the finish line before they must pit and change to the correct tyres. If they don't comply, they receive a Stop-and-Go penalty.
Tyre usage deemed to commence
A set of tyres is officially considered 'used' once your car passes the pit lane exit sensor during a pit stop, or when you drive away from your grid position at the start of the race. This timing rule determines when tyre usage penalties might apply if you don't meet the mandatory tyre compound requirements.
Use of tyres as complete sets
Teams must use their tyres in the complete sets given to them by the FIA. However, after Qualifying finishes, teams can mix and match different tyres from the same dry-weather category (like combining different Pirelli hard compound sets) for the race.
Maximum number of tyre sets per driver
Each driver gets a limited number of tire sets per race weekend depending on the race format. For standard races, you get 13 sets of dry tires, while alternative formats give you 12 sets. You also get 5 sets of intermediate tires and 2 sets of wet tires regardless of format.
Intermediate and wet-weather tyre use in free practice
During practice sessions, drivers can only switch to intermediate or wet tyres once the Race Director officially declares the track is wet. Once that declaration is made, teams are free to use any tyre type (intermediate, wet, or dry) for the rest of the session.
Mandatory dry-weather tyre usage in Race
During a race, drivers must switch between at least two different types of dry-weather tyres, and at least one of those types must be the mandatory hard or medium compound. Monaco is special and requires drivers to use at least three tyre sets total, with at least two different dry-weather compounds.
Wet-weather tyre usage compulsory
When a race starts behind the safety car or restarts under the safety car, all drivers must use wet-weather tyres until the safety car returns to the pit lane and turns off its orange lights. If a driver ignores this rule, they'll receive a Stop-and-Go Penalty.
Tyre usage during Standard Format Competition
During a standard F1 weekend, teams must save one set of Q3 (qualifying) tyres exclusively for the qualifying session and cannot use them in practice. Similarly, two sets of race tyres are reserved for Sunday's race. Any extra tyre sets must be officially returned to Pirelli after each practice session.
Tyre usage during Alternative Format Competition
During sprint qualifying events, teams get one set of dry-weather tires per qualifying session (medium tires for SQ1 and SQ2, soft tires for SQ3), and these tires must be returned electronically at set times. The rules for intermediate and wet-weather tires are different from regular race weekends.
ICTT Driver Eligibility
To participate in ICTT (a specialized F1 competition format), drivers must hold a Full Super Licence and have previous F1 racing experience. This means only experienced, qualified drivers are eligible—you can't just jump in without having raced in Formula 1 before.
Test parts, Test Software, Component Changes & Set-up Changes
Teams can test new parts and software during official tyre tests, but the car's basic setup must stay the same throughout the test. They can only make changes to the car's mechanical setup, driver controls, or software if it's absolutely necessary to properly test the tyres or complete the test.
Additional Sensors and Logging
Teams can install extra sensors on their cars to monitor tire condition and performance, but they need permission from both the tire supplier and the FIA first. Any data collected from these sensors must be shared with the tire supplier promptly after testing.
ICTT Additional Tyres Electronic Return
Teams that receive extra tires for use during in-car test (ICTT) sessions must formally return them electronically within 2 hours after Friday practice ends. This is a documentation requirement to track tire inventory and ensure compliance with regulations.
Driver Adjustable Bodywork General Principles
Drivers can adjust their front wing and rear wing flaps during the race to optimize performance. These adjustments are controlled by the car's computer and work differently depending on whether the car is going through corners (high angle, less adjustment allowed) or driving on straights (low angle, full adjustment available).
Enabling & Disabling Use of Driver Adjustable Bodywork System
When the safety car comes out, drivers lose the ability to adjust their car's bodywork for aerodynamic performance. The system turns back on once the safety car crosses the first safety line as it heads back to the pit lane. However, the Race Director can prevent full activation if there are safety concerns.
Activation & Deactivation
Drivers can only activate their adjustable bodywork (like rear wing flaps) when the car is stopped or in designated activation zones on the track. Once they hit the brakes after activating it, the system automatically switches off. This prevents drivers from gaining unfair advantages by adjusting their car mid-race.
Energy Deployment Limitations General Provisions & Principles
F1 cars have a limit on how much electrical power their hybrid energy recovery system (ERS-K) can use to help propel the car forward. The FIA tells all teams at least 4 weeks before each race what these power limits are, and teams must follow them exactly during the competition.
Enabling & Disabling of Override Mode System
The Override Mode system starts turned off before each race stint. It automatically turns on once the race leader crosses a specific detection line on track. If a Safety Car is deployed, the system immediately gets switched off again.
Activation & Deactivation of Override Mode
Drivers can only use Override Mode when the car's electronics tell them it's available. In long-term practice sessions, it's always ready to use when enabled. In timed sessions, drivers can only activate it once they cross the Activation Line on track.
Failure Mode Handling
If the system that tells a driver when Override Mode is active breaks down, the team can ask the Race Director for permission to manually control the system. However, the team is fully responsible for making sure their driver only uses Override Mode when it's actually supposed to be enabled.
Car Limitations & Usage
Each F1 team can use up to two cars during a race weekend. If a car is badly damaged in a crash or has a major mechanical failure that requires replacing the chassis, the team can use a third car with FIA permission.
Car Definition
This rule defines what officially counts as an F1 car for regulatory purposes. Essentially, if it has a survival cell (the driver's protective cockpit), a power unit (engine) that's either fully or partially installed, and other car components attached, it's legally considered a 'car' under F1 rules.
Power Unit Conformity
Teams can only use power units (engines) in races if every part of that engine was approved by FIA officials when it was first introduced. This means all components must match what the team originally submitted and had checked off as legal.
Power Unit Element Limitations
Each driver has a limited allocation of power unit parts they can use across a season. The most restrictive components are the engine, turbocharger, and exhaust (3 each), while some parts like the energy store and control electronics are limited to 2, and smaller ancillary components to 5. Once a driver exceeds these limits, they face grid penalties.
Additional Power Unit Units
In 2026, drivers get one extra Power Unit component for free if their engine manufacturer is brand new to F1 that season. This is a one-time allowance to help new manufacturers get up to speed without penalty concerns.
Power Unit Usage Penalties
If a driver uses more Power Unit parts than allowed per season, they get penalized on the grid. The first extra part costs 10 grid places, and each additional part costs 5 grid places.
Power Unit Sealing
The FIA puts official seals on engine parts before they're used in a race to prevent tampering. After the race ends, additional seals are placed on the used engine components within 2 hours to make sure teams can't run them again or take them apart between races.
Operational Personnel
Each F1 team can have a maximum of 58 people working on their cars at the track during a race weekend, starting from 29 hours before Friday practice and ending 2 hours after the race finishes. This rule ensures teams don't gain unfair advantage by bringing excessive staff to work on car setup and maintenance.
Trainee Personnel
Teams can bring in up to 16 trainee personnel throughout the season beyond their regular 58 staff members. However, each trainee can only work at a maximum of 3 races during the entire championship.
Declaration of Personnel
Before each race weekend begins, F1 teams must submit a complete list of all their staff members to the FIA using an official online system and template. This includes everyone working on the car and in the team, whether they're regular employees, trainees, shared staff, or guest personnel.
Restricted Period(s) Exceptions
Teams are given a limited number of times they can break certain rules during the season, with fewer exceptions allowed as the season progresses. In the first restricted period they get 4 exceptions, the second period gives them 3 exceptions, and the third period only allows 2 exceptions.