One engine per car from 2004

Each car is to be limited to one engine per grand prix weekend - but the regulation will not come into effect until 2004. There is no mention of any engine rule changes for next season.

If a car needs an engine change during an event, the driver will move back 10 places on the grid. The FIA will consult with the teams to define an engine change so as to prevent the rebuilding of a unit at the circuit. Use of a spare engine counts as an additonal unit.

It has also been decided that the F1 chassis regulations will not undergo any changes for 2003 and 2004.

The FIA World Council met today (Wednesday) in Paris. The changes that have been made into legislation were discussed by the teams and engine manufacturers at the Formula 1 Commission, which met yesterday (Tuesday).

The World Council statement shows that there were a lot of issues that the teams and manufacturers could not agree upon. At the Malaysian GP, they held meetings lasting eight hours over the course of the weekend to finalise a proposal to be voted upon at the F1 Commission. The plan was for this proposal to be agreed upon and then made official by the FIA.

More changes were expected, although surprise sporting rules have been decreed with immediate effect (For details, click here.).

It had been expected that GP weekends would be reduced to two days, with Fridays being either chopped altogether or turned into a testing opportunity. Also changes to test bans had been anticipated. But neither is mentioned in the FIA despatch.

For Eddie Irvine's view on the engine rules, click here.