The technical and sporting regulations for the 2025 and 2026 Formula 1 seasons are still moving. Find out about the latest changes discussed by the Commission.
The fifth meeting in 2024 of the F1 Commission, which took place this Wednesday in Geneva under the presidency of Nikolas Tombazis (FIA single-seater director) and Stefano Domenicali (CEO of Formula 1), made it possible to validate several changes for the next two World Championship campaigns.
What will change in 2025?
On the technical side, the F1 Commission approved a series of changes for the 2025 season, including the introduction of a cooling kit for drivers in case of excessive heat, as was the case in Saudi Arabia or Qatar in 2023.
On sporting regulations, building on discussions sparked by the recent Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, the Commission confirmed a revised protocol for closing the starting grid when a team withdraws a car. We recall that the start of the Interlagos round was disrupted by Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) going off the track.
While the cars should have remained on their grid position while waiting for the track to be cleared, polesitter Lando Norris thought he had to leave for an additional warm-up lap, taking three other cars with him in his mistake. This confusing situation ultimately led to a second departure procedure and a fine for the McLaren driver.
As Sport Auto told you about it here, a sprint race bringing together F2 drivers or F1 rookies with less than two Grands Prix on the clock was supposed to take place in the wake of the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi. Initially postponed to 2025, the project was re-examined… and postponed to 2026.
Finally, the Commission approved new measures to extend the exclusion of costs of sustainable development initiatives from financial regulations for 2025.
What changes should be noted for 2026?
The F1 Commission also informs us that the process of drafting the regulations for the 2026 season has progressed significantly. Section A, designed to establish a coherent framework for all subsequent sections, is expected to be presented at the first meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in 2025.
In Section B, revisions to the Sporting Regulations will incorporate gender-neutral language, highlighting the FIA's commitment to inclusiveness in all areas.
The commission was informed of the progress made with the teams and the technical regulations (section C) should be completed in time for the next WMSC meeting. The general objectives in terms of starting performance level should be achieved.
Regarding the Financial Regulation (section D), measures to strengthen the provisions relating to confidentiality during investigations and other procedural matters were discussed.
Remember that these various changes will have to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council which will meet in Kigali, Rwanda, in December 2024.
