FIA Change Third Driver Rule

As Autosport-Atlas revealed last weekend, Red Bull had pleaded with their rival teams to support a change in the rules to allow Klien to become their Friday runner, even though he exceeded the previous limit of having competed in more than six grands prix over the previous two years.

Red Bull's rivals all agreed to the change and there will now be no limit laid down on how much experience a team's third driver can have.

A statement issued by the FIA on Thursday said: "Following a unanimous request from the teams and further to a fax vote of the remaining Formula One Commission members, together with a fax vote of the World Motor Sport Council, the requirement under Article 58b of the 2005 Formula One Sporting Regulations that the third (Friday) driver should not have competed in more than six World Championship events during the previous two World Championships has been deleted.

"As a result, any driver with a Formula One Super Licence may now run as a third driver on Friday."

The change in regulations means that Klien will now spend the next three races as Red Bull's Friday tester, while Vitantonio Liuzzi competes in his first Grand Prix for the team.

The FIA decision comes ahead of Red Bull Racing breaking ranks with the 'Group of Nine' and attending Friday's meeting with the sport's governing body.