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The F1 Commission approves changes to the Sprint format and some other elements, to be defined at a later date.
The F1 Commission, which comprises the FIA, the FOM, the teams and the official suppliers, has approved the revision of several points for the regulations for 2024 and beyond, although some of them, such as the new Sprint format, will have to be fine-tuned and detailed in the coming weeks.
Changes will affect the sprint races, car cooling, wet weather tyres, tyre availability, financial changes and the 2026 regulations.
These are the most important resolutions adopted in Abu Dhabi:
Sprint race weekend format to be updated
Still to be determined, but it looks like qualifying for Sunday's race and the possibility of partial, or all, reverse grids for the Sprint race is being considered, although nothing has been decided, at the moment.
More tests to improve wet visibility with covered tires
Testing days will take place for Pirelli to improve the system of removable mudguards that were released this year. These are covers or mudguards for the rear wheels, in extreme rain conditions, to mitigate the spray or wake of water that the cars raise in these conditions.
There will be no more Grand Prixs with fewer sets of tyres available
Supplying 11 sets of tyres for the whole weekend instead of 13 was done twice in 2023 but in the face of complaints from drivers and teams, the idea of saving sets that do not benefit the show is discarded.
In addition, the intention to eliminate the heating blankets is suspended until at least 2026, i.e. the next two years will continue as before.
Ducting will be allowed for more pilot cooling for very hot situations
The measure comes from the experience of the Qatar GP, where the cockpits turned into ovens and some racers retired or had to be treated at the medical center after the race. The duct, located in the nose of the car, may be opened to improve air flow.
Changes to metal parts on the floor of the car
To improve the safety of the participants.
Small changes in the financial limit
In order to allow the teams to better adjust to the limit which has been a headache in some occasions.
The 2026 car cannot be developed until the beginning of 2025
The car, physically, will not be able to start production until the year before its implementation, although prototype work on computers has already existed for some time in terms of simulators.