F1 News
Date: 8/December/2011
The final World Motor Sport Council meeting of 2011 saw confirmation of several expected F1 rule changes - plus one notable unforeseen amendment.
That was in terms of overtaking, with the attacking driver to be handed a further advantage (alongside the use of DRS).
From next season “Drivers may no longer move back onto the racing line having moved off it to defend a position.”
In one short sentence, the WMSC has thus removed the primary tactic used to prevent overtaking.
The usual response when a driver is under threat from a car behind is to move off the racing line to ‘cover’ the inside line. This forces the attacking driver to either try and brave it out around the outside, or to go even further inside the car ahead (if space is available).
In the past, the leading car has then been allowed to return to the normal race line in time for the corner. It is this second move which will now be illegal, meaning the driver ahead will have to choose between moving and staying off the racing line, or leaving the inside line open for the car behind.
Other changes included confirmation that exhaust tailpipes will be “strictly regulated” to ensure they provide little aerodynamic effect, a warning that all crash tests must be passed before taking part in pre-season testing, and a new three-day test session to be carried out during the season.
The 2012 F1 calendar was also “confirmed as previously published” meaning the sport intends to run a 20-race season, which will include a controversial return to Bahrain and F1’s debut at a new track in Austin, Texas.
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