FIA announce rule changes for 2012

While the Formula One Teams Association continue their squabbles and seem to achieve very little, the World Motor Sport Council met this week and have ratified some rule changes for the 2012 season.

The FIA also confirmed the 2012 Formula One calendar [no changes despite concerns over Bahrain and USA].

The regulation changes have brought in a three-day test session during the season and a number of other technical rule changes, a change to tyre rules and changes to the race regulations.

The technical rule changes in a nutshell clampdown on engine mapping and ban blown diffusers, which was something the teams argued over throughout the first half of the 2011 F1 season.

The second technical rule change is around crash testing. Tougher side impact test have now been enforced and all new cars will have to pass all crash tests prior to on-track testing in February.

The tyre regulation change will mean that teams are no longer limited to just three sets on a Friday, enabling teams to use their tyre allocation throughout the race weekend as they wish.

The race regulation changes affect the rules behind the safety car and a tweak to the 'one move' rule for when drivers are defending their position on the track.

Under the new safety car rules, lapped drivers will be able to unlap themselves and rejoin the queue behind the safety car at the back of the line, this will then enable the lead drivers to race for position as soon as the safety car pulls back into the pits and the race resumes.

The tweak for defending drivers, now prevents drivers who make a move to defend their position away from the racing line, to return to it, thus blocking the attacking driver twice.

This scenario was seen multiple times during the course of the 2011 season and it will be interesting to see how it is enforced by the race stewards and whether the advantage will now be handed to the attacking driver.

The FIA are also set to clamp down on any drivers who leave the track to cut out chicanes and corners on 'in' laps to save time and fuel during practice and qualifying.

The full changes can be read on formula1.com