FIA announced the latest decisions regarding the 2018 season

The World Motor Sport Council gathered on the 6th December in Paris. It was its final meeting of 2017. This meeting affected the Sporting and Technical regulation for the 2018 Formula One Championship.

The sport's governing body, the FIA announced on its official site that several amendments to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for 2018 were approved. These included:

• Regulations relating to procedures for starting or resuming a race behind the safety car

• Changing the event timetable to increase flexibility

• Ensuring that testing of previous cars may only take place on tracks currently holding an FIA Grade 1 or 1T licence

• Provision for demonstration events in previous cars which does not constitute testing. No such demonstrations may exceed 50km in length and only tyres manufactured specifically for this purpose by the appointed supplier may be used

• Changes to ensure that oil cannot be used as fuel

• Introduction of a detailed specification for oil

• A minimum weight and volume for energy storage (batteries)

• Changes to position of cameras and wing mirrors to accommodate the Halo

A change to the power unit penalty system was also approved, whereby if a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 grid places he will be required to start the race from the back of the starting grid. If more than one driver receives such a penalty they will be arranged at the back of the grid in the order in which the offences were committed.

FIA does not intend to abolish the penalties regarding the power unit as it is keen on forcing the engine manufacturers to be able to complete the whole season with the maximum number of power unit permitted which will be three in 2018.

During the meeting, the incidents which occurred during the Brazilian Grand Prix were also discussed. Team personnel of the Mercedes team was attacked during the event when their bus was robbed at gunpoint. As it was not the first time that incident like that happened to team members, drivers and teams expressed their fears and urged the governing body and the Commercial Rights Holder to take action.

The World Council was presented with the report on the security incidents that occurred at this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix which was requested from the Commercial Rights Holder (CRH) by the FIA. Following the report, the CRH recommended that the promoter, who is responsible for the security of the event, retains an independent security expert to evaluate and advise on security plans, implements a police reporting hub at the circuit and improves overall communication between the promoter security, police and F1 stakeholders.

The World Council strongly urged the promoter to implement these recommendations and improve the situation ahead of next year’s event. The FIA will offer to participate in discussions with the local authorities and closely monitor the situation.