Formula 1 is evolving, and six of its rules will undergo changes in 2025. Here’s what to expect:
Tomorrow, with the F1-75 event, Formula 1 will officially kick off the new season. It’s shaping up to be an exciting championship, thanks to the many changes on the grid, starting with the major move of Hamilton. But it’s not just the drivers making headlines; the FIA will also be handling six new or modified rules for the season.
1. Abolition of the Fastest Lap Point
Introduced in 2019, the extra point for the fastest lap during the race (awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap, provided they finish in the top 10) has been officially scrapped.
Over the years, this rule was often used strategically, with pit stops late in the race to try to claim the extra point, either to gain an advantage in the championship or take it away from a direct rival.
2. If Qualifying Is Not Held
After severe delays caused by bad weather at the 2024 São Paulo GP, which led to qualifying taking place on Sunday before the race, the FIA has amended the rule to handle situations of adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
- If qualifying (or sprint qualifying) cannot take place, the starting grid will be determined based on the drivers’ championship order.
- If qualifying for the first race of the season (this year, the Australian GP) cannot be held, the grid will be decided at the discretion of the stewards.
3. Increased Time for Young Drivers
The rule for young drivers, which previously required teams to field a rookie in one FP1 session per car each year, has been doubled in 2025. Each team will need to run a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions per car each season (a total of 4 times).
An important note is that rookies are considered drivers who have participated in no more than two races in their F1 careers, meaning Franco Colapinto is no longer eligible to participate in rookie sessions for Alpine.
4. Driver cooling
To address past issues with races in extreme heat conditions (such as the Singapore and Saudi Arabian GPs), the FIA will introduce cooling kits for drivers, which must be used by teams when races reach or exceed 31°C, or when a “heat hazard” is declared.
The kit essentially consists of a fireproof shirt with tubes through which fluid is pumped, and a thermal system to keep the fluid cool (e.g., an ice block). The weight limit for the car will increase accordingly: 2 kg for practice and qualifying sessions, and 5 kg for a sprint or main race.
5. Stricter DRS Rules
After the controversy surrounding McLaren’s “mini DRS” wing in 2024, which was deemed compliant with the regulations but later required modification (highlighting a loophole), the FIA has tightened its rules on rear wing flexibility for 2025.
The minimum gap has been reduced from 10-15mm to 9-13mm when DRS is closed, and remains at 85mm when DRS is open. The FIA has also added further clarification that the rear wing must have only two positions (either DRS open or closed), and the time to transition between the two must be less than 400ms.
6. Changes to TPC Testing
To allow more time on track for reserve and test drivers, the TPC (Testing and Practice for Current Drivers) time has been reduced to just four days per Grand Prix driver. Teams still have a total of 20 TPC days in a calendar year, but alongside the four-day limit for current F1 drivers, they cannot exceed 1,000 km across their sessions.
Photo: Formula 1
Credits: Becca Nixon