F1 clamps down on driving standards

Following its World Motor Sport Council meeting last week, the governing body published the full sporting and technical regulations for next year.

In them, the FIA has made several tweaks aimed at cleaner racing in Formula 1 - which will include being stricter in dealing with aggressive defensive driving and those drivers who regularly run off the track to find an advantage.

"Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted," the new rules state.

The regulations also said that drivers benefiting from leaving the track could face penalties.

"Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not

"A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.

"Should a car leave the track for any reason the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage."

The ruling body has also tightened rules for backmarkers, in the hope that they influence races as little as possible.

"As soon as a car is caught by another car which is about to lap it during the race the driver must allow the faster driver past at the first available opportunity," the new rules read.

"If the driver who has been caught does not allow the faster driver past, waved blue flags will be shown to indicate that he must allow the following driver to overtake. Any driver who is deemed to be ignoring the waved blue flags will be reported to the stewards of the meeting."

The FIA also made it clear it will not allow overtaking in the pitlane next year.

"Any car(s) driven to the end of the pitlane prior to the start or re-start of a practice session, or any car(s) required to stop at the pit exit during a safety car period, must form up in a line in the fast lane and leave in the order they got there unless another car is unduly delayed."

The full regulations can be found here.