FIA Sporting Regulations (2013)

The FIA Sporting Regulations are the sporting rules by which Formula One events and the World Championships are run. These are an annotated, illustrated view of the regulations, as decided by the FIA. The official version of these regulations can be found here.
=2013 FORMULA ONE SPORTING REGULATIONS=
The FIA will organise the FIA Formula One World Championship (the Championship) which is the property of the FIA and comprises two titles of World Champion, one for drivers and one for constructors. It consists of the Formula One Grand Prix races which are included in the Formula One calendar and in respect of which the ASNs and organisers have signed organisation agreements with the FIA. All the participating parties (FIA, ASNs, organisers, competitors and circuits) undertake to apply as well as observe the rules governing the Championship and must hold FIA Super Licences which are issued to drivers, competitors, officials, organisers and circuits.
==1. REGULATIONS==
;1.1: The final text of these Sporting Regulations shall be the English version which will be used should any dispute arise as to their interpretation. Headings in this document are for ease of reference only and do not form part of these Sporting Regulations.
;1.2: These Sporting Regulations were published on the date written below in accordance with the provisions of the International Sporting Code.
==2. GENERAL UNDERTAKING==
;2.1: All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship undertake, on behalf of themselves, their employees, agents and suppliers, to observe all the provisions as supplemented or amended of the International Sporting Code (the Code), the Formula One Technical Regulations (the Technical Regulations) and the present Sporting Regulations together referred to as “the Regulations”.
;2.2: The Championship and each of its Events is governed by the FIA in accordance with the Regulations. Event means any event entered into the FIA Formula One Championship Calendar for any year commencing at the scheduled time for scrutineering and sporting checks and including all practice and the race itself and ending at the later of the time for the lodging of a protest under the terms of the Code and the time when a technical or sporting certification has been carried out under the terms of the Code.
;2.3: Any special national regulations must be submitted to the FIA with the original application for inclusion of an Event on the international calendar. Only with the approval of the FIA can such special regulations come into force for an Event.
==3. GENERAL CONDITIONS==
;3.1: It is the competitor's responsibility to ensure that all persons concerned by his entry observe all the requirements of the Regulations. If a competitor is unable to be present in person at the Event he must nominate his representative in writing. The person having charge of an entered car during any part of an Event is responsible jointly and severally with the competitor for ensuring that the requirements are observed.
;3.2: Competitors must ensure that their cars comply with the conditions of eligibility and safety throughout practice and the race.
;3.3: The presentation of a car for scrutineering will be deemed an implicit statement of conformity.
;3.4: All persons concerned in any way with an entered car or present in any other capacity whatsoever in the paddock, pit lane, or track must wear an appropriate pass at all times.
==4. LICENCES==
;4.1: All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship must hold a FIA Super Licence. Applications for Super Licences must be made annually to the FIA through the applicant's ASN.
==5. CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS==
;5.1: Events are reserved for Formula One cars as defined in the Technical Regulations.
;5.2: Each Event will have the status of an international restricted competition.
;5.3: The distance of all races, from the start signal referred to in Article 38.9 to the chequered flag, shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 305 km (Monaco 260km). However, should two hours elapse before the scheduled race distance is completed, the leader will be shown the chequered flag when he crosses the control line (the Line) at the end of the lap during which the two hour period ended. However, should the race be suspended (see Article 41) the length of the suspension will be added to this period up to a maximum total race time of four hours.
;5.4: The maximum number of Events in the Championship is 20, the minimum is 8.
;5.5: The final list of Events is published by the FIA before 1 January each year.
;5.6: An Event which is cancelled with less than three months written notice to the FIA will not be considered for inclusion in the following year's Championship unless the FIA judges the cancellation to have been due to force majeure.
;5.7: An Event may be cancelled if fewer than 12 cars are available for it.
==6. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP==
;6.1: The Formula One World Championship driver's title will be awarded to the driver who has scored the highest number of points, taking into consideration all the results obtained during the Events which have actually taken place.
;6.2: The title of Formula One World Champion Constructor will be awarded to the competitor which has scored the highest number of points, results from both cars (see Article 13.6) being taken into account.
;6.3: A constructor is the person (including any corporate or unincorporated body) which designs the Listed Parts set out in Appendix 6. The make of an engine or chassis is the name attributed to it by its constructor. The obligation to design and use Listed Parts shall not prevent a constructor from outsourcing the design and/or manufacture of any Listed Parts to a third party in accordance with the provisions of Appendix 6. If the make of the chassis is not the same as that of the engine, the title will be awarded to the former which shall always precede the latter in the name of the car.
;6.4: Points for both titles will be awarded at each Event according to the following scale :
*1st : 25 points
*2nd : 18 points
*3rd : 15 points
*4th : 12 points
*5th : 10 points
*6th : 8 points
*7th : 6 points
*8th : 4 points
*9th : 2 points
*10th : 1 point
;6.5: If a race is suspended under Article 41, and cannot be resumed, no points will be awarded if the leader has completed less than two laps, half points will be awarded if the leader has completed more than two laps but less than 75% of the original race distance and full points will be awarded if the leader has completed 75% or more of the original race distance.
;6.6: The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony.
==7. DEAD HEAT==
;7.1: Prizes and points awarded for all the positions of competitors who tie, will be added together and shared equally.
;7.2: If two or more constructors or drivers finish the season with the same number of points, the higher place in the Championship (in either case) shall be awarded to:
*a) The holder of the greatest number of first places.
*b) If the number of first places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of second places.
*c) If the number of second places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of third places and so on until a winner emerges.
*d) If this procedure fails to produce a result, the FIA will nominate the winner according to such criteria as it thinks fit.
==8. PROMOTER==
;8.1: An application to promote an Event must be made to the ASN of the country in which the Event is to take place, which will apply to the FIA. It must be accompanied by written evidence that the promoter has made arrangements to secure the participation of competitors, which arrangements are conditional only upon the FIA entering the Event on the Championship calendar.
==9. ORGANISATION OF EVENTS==
;9.1: An organiser is a body nominated by the ASN and appointed by the FIA. Upon deciding to grant an application to hold an Event, the FIA will invite the relevant ASN to organise it or to nominate an organiser. If the ASN is not in a position to do so, the FIA may itself appoint an organiser. The organiser must be a club or body acceptable to the FIA and must enter into an organisation agreement with the FIA when it applies to organise the Event.
==10. INSURANCE==
;10.1: The promoter of an Event must procure that all competitors, their personnel and drivers are covered by third party insurance in accordance with the FIA requirements.
;10.2: Ninety days before the Event, the promoter must send the FIA details of the risks covered by the insurance policy which must comply with the national laws in force as well as the FIA requirements. Sight of the policy must be available to the competitors on demand.
;10.3: Third party insurance arranged by the promoter shall be in addition and without prejudice to any personal insurance policy held by a competitor or any other participant in the Event.
;10.4: Drivers taking part in the Event are not third parties with respect to one another.
==11. FIA DELEGATES==
;11.1: For each Event the FIA will nominate the following delegates :
*a) Safety delegate.
*b) Medical delegate.
*c) Technical delegate.
*d) Press delegate.
And may nominate :
*e) A representative of the President of the FIA.
*f) An observer.
*g) A safety car driver.
*h) A medical car driver.
;11.2: The role of the FIA delegates is to help the officials of the Event in their duties, to see within their fields of competence that all the regulations governing the Championship are respected, to make any comments they judge necessary and to draw up any necessary reports concerning the Event.
;11.3: The technical delegate nominated by the FIA will be responsible for scrutineering and will have full authority over the national scrutineers.
==12. OFFICIALS==
;12.1: From among holders of an FIA Super Licence the following officials will be nominated by the FIA:
*a) Three stewards one of whom will be appointed chairman.
*b) A race director.
*c) A permanent starter.
;12.2: From among holders of an FIA Super Licence the following officials will be nominated by the ASN and their names sent to the FIA at the same time as the application to organise the Event:
*a) One steward from among the ASNs nationals.
*b) The clerk of the course.
;12.3: The clerk of the course shall work in permanent consultation with the race director. The race director shall have overriding authority in the following matters and the clerk of the course may give orders in respect of them only with his express agreement :
*a) The control of practice and the race, adherence to the timetable and, if he deems it necessary, the making of any proposal to the stewards to modify the timetable in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations.
*b) The stopping of any car in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations.
*c) The stopping of practice or suspension of the race in accordance with the Sporting Regulations if he deems it unsafe to continue and ensuring that the correct restart procedure is carried out.
*d) The starting procedure.
*e) The use of the safety car.
;12.4: The race director, the clerk of the course and the technical delegate must be present at the Event from 10.00 on the day of initial scrutineering and the stewards from 15.00 on the same day.
;12.5: The race director must be in radio contact with the clerk of the course and the chairman of the stewards at all times when cars are permitted to run on the track. Additionally, the clerk of the course must be in race control and in radio contact with all marshal's posts during these times.
==13. COMPETITORS APPLICATIONS==
;13.1: Applications to compete in the Championship may be submitted to the FIA during the period 30 June to 15 July inclusive of the year prior to the year to which the application relates on an entry form as set out in Appendix 2 hereto accompanied by an undertaking to pay the entry fee, calculated in accordance with Appendix 7, to the FIA no later than 30 November of the year prior to the year to which the application relates. Applications at other times will only be considered if a place is available and on payment of a late entry fee to be fixed by the FIA. Entry forms will be made available by the FIA who will notify the applicant of the result of the application within thirty days of its receipt. Successful applicants are automatically entered in all Events of the Championship and will be the only competitors at Events.
;13.2: Applications shall include :
*a) Confirmation that the applicant has read and understood the Regulations and agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of everyone associated with its participation in the Championship, to observe them.
*b) The name of the team (which must include the name of the chassis).
*c) The make of the competing car.
*d) The make of the engine.
*e) The names of the drivers. A driver may be nominated subsequent to the application upon payment of a fee fixed by the FIA.
*f) An undertaking by the applicant to participate in every Event with the number of cars and drivers entered.
;13.3: A competitor may change the make of engine at any time during the Championship. All points scored with an engine of different make to that which was first entered in the Championship may count (and will be aggregated) for the assessment of a commercial benefit, however such points will not count towards (nor be aggregated for) the FIA Formula One Constructors Championship. A major car manufacturer may not directly or indirectly supply engines for more than three teams of two cars each without the consent of the FIA. For the purposes of this Article 13.3, a major car manufacturer is a company whose shares are quoted on a recognised stock exchange or the subsidiary of such a company.
;13.4: With the exception of those whose cars have scored points in the Championship of the previous year, applicants must supply information about the size of their company, their financial position and their ability to meet their prescribed obligations.
;13.5: All applications will be studied by the FIA and accepted or rejected at its absolute discretion. The FIA will publish the list of cars and drivers accepted together with their race numbers on or before 30 November of the year prior to the year to which the applications relate, having first notified unsuccessful applicants as set out in Article 13.1. Out-of-time applications will be considered separately.
;13.6: No more than 26 cars will be admitted to the Championship, two being entered by each competitor.
;13.7: If in the opinion of the F1 Commission a competitor fails to operate his team in a manner compatible with the standards of the Championship or in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith.
==14. PASSES==
;14.1: No pass may be issued or used other than with the agreement of the FIA. A pass may be used only by the person and for the purpose for which it was issued.
==15. INSTRUCTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS TO COMPETITORS==
;15.1: The stewards or race director may give instructions to competitors by means of special circulars in accordance with the Code. These circulars will be distributed to all competitors who must acknowledge receipt.
;15.2: All classifications and results of practice and the race, as well as all decisions issued by the officials, will be posted on the official notice board.
;15.3: Any decision or communication concerning a particular competitor should be given to him within twenty five minutes of such decision, and receipt must be acknowledged.
==16. INCIDENTS==
;16.1: "Incident" means any occurrence or series of occurrences involving one or more drivers, or any action by any driver, which is reported to the stewards by the race director (or noted by the stewards and subsequently investigated) which :
*a) Necessitated the suspension of a race under Article 41.
*b) Constituted a breach of these Sporting Regulations or the Code.
*c) Caused a false start by one or more cars.
*d) Caused a collision.
*e) Forced a driver off the track.
*f) Illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver.
*g) Illegitimately impeded another driver during overtaking.
Unless it was completely clear that a driver was in breach of any of the above, any incidents involving more than one car will normally be investigated after the race.
;16.2:
*a) It shall be at the discretion of the stewards to decide, upon a report or a request by the race director, if a driver or drivers involved in an incident shall be penalised.
*b) If an incident is under investigation by the stewards a message informing all teams which driver or drivers are involved will be displayed on the official messaging system. 
Provided that such a message is displayed no later than five minutes after the race has finished the driver or drivers concerned may not leave the circuit without the consent of the stewards.
;16.3: The stewards may impose any one of the penalties below on any driver involved in an Incident:
*a) A drive-through penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane and re-join the race without stopping.
*b) A ten second time penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane, stop at his pit for at least ten seconds and then re-join the race.
If either of the two penalties above are imposed during the last five laps, or after the end of a race, Article 16.4b) below will not apply and 20 seconds will be added to the elapsed race time of the driver concerned in the case of a) above and 30 seconds in the case of b).
*c) A time penalty.
*d) A reprimand.
If any of the four penalties above are imposed they shall not be subject to appeal.
*e) A drop of any number of grid positions at the driver’s next Event.
*f) Exclusion from the results.
*g) Suspension from the driver’s next Event.
;16.4: Should the stewards decide to impose either of the penalties under Article 16.3a) or b), the following procedure will be followed :
*a) The stewards will give written notification of the penalty which has been imposed to the competitor concerned and will ensure that this information is also displayed on the official messaging system.
*b) From the time the stewards’ decision is notified on the official messaging system the relevant driver may cross the Line on the track no more than twice before entering the pit lane and, in the case of a penalty under Article 16.3b), proceeding to his garage where he shall remain for the period of the time penalty.
However, unless the driver was already in the pit entry for the purpose of serving his penalty, he may not carry out the penalty after the safety car has been deployed. The number of times the driver crosses the Line behind the safety car will be added to the maximum number of times he may cross the Line on the track.
Whilst a car is stationary in the pit lane as a result of incurring a time penalty it may not be worked on. However, if the engine stops it may be started after the time penalty period has elapsed.
*c) When the time penalty period has elapsed the driver may rejoin the race.
*d) Any breach or failure to comply with Articles 16.4b) or c) may result in the car being excluded.
==17. PROTESTS AND APPEALS==
;17.1: Protests shall be made in accordance with the Code and accompanied by a fee of €2000.
;17.2: Appeals may not be made against decision concerning the following :
*a) Penalties imposed under Articles 16.3a), b) c) or d), including those imposed during the last five laps or after the end of a race.
*b) Any drop of grid positions imposed under Article 28.
*c) Any penalty imposed under Article 31.6.
*d) Any decision taken by the stewards in relation to Article 36.1.
*e) Any penalty imposed under Articles 38.4 or 42.3.
==18. SANCTIONS==
;18.1: The stewards may inflict the penalties specifically set out in these Sporting Regulations in addition to or instead of any other penalties available to them under the Code.
;18.2: Any driver who receives three reprimands in the same Championship season will, upon the imposition of the third, be given a ten grid place penalty at that Event. If the third reprimand is imposed following an Incident during a race the ten grid place penalty will be applied at the driver’s next Event.
The ten grid place penalty will only be imposed if at least two of the reprimands were imposed for a driving infringement.
==19. CHANGES OF DRIVER==
;19.1: 
*a) During a season each team will be permitted to use four drivers. Changes may be made at any time before the start of the qualifying practice session provided any change proposed after 16.00 on the day of scrutineering receives the consent of the stewards.
Additional changes for reasons of force majeure will be considered separately.
Any new driver may score points in the Championship.
*b) In addition to the above each team will be permitted to run additional drivers during P1 and P2 provided :
**i) The stewards are informed which cars and drivers each team intends to use in each session before the end of initial scrutineering, changes after this time may only be made with the consent of the stewards.
**ii) No more than two drivers are used in any one session.
**iii) They carry the race number of the nominated driver they replace.
**iv) They use the engine and tyres which are allocated to the nominated driver.
**v) They are in possession of a Super Licence.
*c) If one of the team’s nominated drivers is unable to drive at some stage after the end of initial scrutineering, and the stewards consent to a change of driver, the replacement driver must use the engine, gearbox and tyres which were allocated to the original driver (see Articles 25.4, 28.4 and 28.6).
==20. DRIVING==
;20.1: The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
;20.2: 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 the driver may rejoin, however, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.
A driver may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason.
;20.3: More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted. Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off-line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner.
;20.4: Any driver defending his position on a straight, and before any braking area, may use the full width of the track during his first move, provided no significant portion of the car attempting to pass is alongside his. Whilst defending in this way the driver may not leave the track without justifiable reason.
For the avoidance of doubt, if any part of the front wing of the car attempting to pass is alongside the rear wheel of the car in front this will be deemed to be a ‘significant portion’.
;20.5: Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted.
;20.6: 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. 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.
==21. CAR LIVERY==
;21.1: The provisions of the Code relating to national colours shall not apply to the Championship.
Both cars entered by a competitor must be presented in substantially the same livery at each Event, any change to this livery during a Championship season may only be made with the agreement of the Formula One Commission.
In order that the cars of each team may be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the on board cameras located above the principal roll structure of the first car must remain as it is supplied to the team and the second car must be predominantly fluorescent yellow.
;21.2: Each car will carry the race number of its driver (or his replacement) as published by the FIA at the beginning of the season. This number must be clearly visible from the front of the car.
;21.3: The name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the front of the nose of the car and in either case be at least 25mm in its largest dimension. The name of the driver must appear on the external bodywork and be clearly legible.
==22. TRACK AND WIND TUNNEL TESTING==
;22.1: Track testing shall be considered any track running time not part of an Event undertaken by a competitor entered in the Championship, using cars which conform substantially with the current Formula One Technical Regulations in addition to those from the previous or subsequent year. The only exception is that each competitor is permitted up to eight promotional events, carried out using tyres provided specifically for this purpose by the appointed supplier, to a maximum distance of 100kms per event.
;22.2: Track testing may only be carried out using cars which have been subjected to, and fulfilled the requirements of, the tests described in Articles 16.2-6, 17.2-3 and 18.2-9 of the F1 Technical Regulations. Furthermore, any car used for track testing must be fitted with the panels described in Articles 15.4.7 and 15.4.8 of the F1 Technical Regulations.
;22.3: No competitor may carry out more than 15,000km of track testing during a calendar year.
;22.4: No track testing may take place :
*a) Whilst a Championship Event is taking place.
*b) With more than one car per day at any such test.
*c) Before 09.00 or after 18.00 on any day at any such test.
*d) On any track located outside Europe without the agreement of the majority of teams and the FIA.
*e) During the month of August except under (h)(iii) below.
*f) During the month of January.
*g) Between 1 February and the start of a ten day period which precedes the start of the first Event of the Championship of the same year with the exception of:
**i) Aerodynamic tests carried out in accordance with 22.4(h)(ii) below.
**ii) Three team tests of no more than four consecutive days duration, carried out on a site approved by the FIA for Formula 1 cars.
*h) Between the start of a ten day period which precedes the start of the first Event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year with the following exceptions :
**i) One three day young driver training test carried out on a date and site approved by the FIA following consultation with all teams. No driver who has competed in more than two F1 World Championship races may take part in this test and all drivers must be in possession of an International A Licence.
**ii) Four one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 February of the current year and the start of the last Event of the Championship. Any of these days may be substituted for four hours of wind-on full scale wind tunnel testing to be carried out in a single twenty four hour period.
**iii) If a team declares that one of its current race drivers is to be substituted by a driver who has not participated in an F1 race in the two previous calendar years, one day of track testing will be permitted between the start of a ten day period which precedes the start of the second Event and the last Event of the Championship. The following must be observed:
*** Any such day may only be carried out by the new driver and may not take place on a circuit hosting a race in the current Championship year.
*** Any such day may only take place within a period 14 days prior to the substitution and 14 days after the substitution has taken place.
*** If a team, having declared the driver’s substitution and performed the test, does not then enter an Event with the new driver, the team will be penalised by a reduction of one day from the pre-season track testing days available in the following year.
;22.5: During all track testing cars must be fitted with the FIA ECU required by Article 8.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations. However, FIA approved software need not be installed in the FIA ECU when aerodynamic testing is being carried out in accordance with 22.4(c)(iii) above.
;22.6: No track testing is permitted at sites which are not currently approved for use by Formula 1 cars. In order to ensure that venue licence conditions are respected at all times during track testing, competitors are required to inform the FIA of their test schedule in order that an observer may be appointed if deemed necessary.
;22.7: During all Formula One track testing :
*a) Red flag and chequered flag procedures must be respected.
*b) No other type of vehicle is permitted on the track.
*c) Every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that the recommendations concerning emergency services detailed in Article 16 of Appendix H to the Code are followed.
;22.8: If, after an incident during track testing, the Medical Warning Light signals that threshold forces have been exceeded the driver must present himself for examination in the circuit medical centre without delay.
;22.9: With the exception of the full scale testing permitted in 22.4(h)(ii) above, no wind tunnel testing may be carried out using a scale model which is greater than 60% of full size.
;22.10: No wind tunnel testing may be carried out at a speed exceeding 50 metres/second.
Category:Regulations