F1 finds Korea, a real super license…

The 2015 season of F1 should not count 20 but rather 21 Grands Prix! The FIA ​​World Council in Doha (Qatar) announced the return of the Korean GP to Yeongam, nevertheless followed by the mention " to confirm ". This event should be contested on May 3, two weeks after Bahrain and 7 days before the Grand Prix… of Spain.

2015 F1 season calendar:

March 15: Australian Grand Prix
March 29: Malaysian Grand Prix
April 12: Chinese Grand Prix
April 19: Bahrain Grand Prix
May 3: Korean Grand Prix (to be confirmed)
May 10: Spanish Grand Prix
May 24: Monaco Grand Prix
June 7: Canadian Grand Prix
June 21: Austrian Grand Prix
July 5: British Grand Prix
July 19: German Grand Prix
July 26: Hungarian Grand Prix
August 23: Belgian Grand Prix
September 6: Italian Grand Prix
September 20: Singapore Grand Prix
September 27: Japanese Grand Prix
October 11: Russian Grand Prix (Sochi)
October 25: US Grand Prix (Austin)
November 1: Mexican Grand Prix
November 15: Brazilian Grand Prix
November 29: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The World Council also confirmed that doubled points were abandoned for 2015, after the Abu Dhabi final experienced last month. The system of virtual safety car will be properly applied next year, following the tests carried out at the end of the season. The marshals will therefore be able to neutralize the race in a defined sector by limiting the maximum speed of the drivers. This system was put in place following Jules Bianchi's accident at the Japanese Grand Prix, although the investigation group's report confirmed that there was no element forcing the marshals to bring out the safety car.

A real great license

The FIA ​​has decided to make access to the super license more difficult, after the arrival of Max Verstappen at only 17 years old, who only has one season spent in F3 European Championship! These applications will be implemented in 2016:

– Have a valid driving license.
– Be at least 18 years old.
– Check knowledge of F1 sporting regulations
– Complete at least 300km behind the wheel of an F1.
– Have a minimum experience of 2 years in lower disciplines.
– Performance will be taken into account by a points system.

Revised penalties

Concerning the famous penalties, the commissioners will be able, in addition to inflicting 5-second sanctions, to impose 10-second penalties. A 10-second stop & go will be systematically imposed on a driver leaving the pits in a dangerous manner. If a team member or piece of equipment remains on the grid for more than 15 seconds after the signal, the driver of the car concerned must start from the pit lane. If this sanction is not carried out, a ten-second stop & go will be imposed.

The sanctions concerning the number of Power Units have also evolved: the penalty places retained throughout the Grands Prix will give way to a time sanction if the driver is not able to move back far enough on the grid.

Technology is not forgotten

The teams will be able to let go of ballast since the minimum weight of the car will increase to 702kg against 691kg this season, which had posed a problem for the big guys. The regulations will also change with regard to wind tunnel tests for 2015 and 2016, without any additional clarification having been provided. A rear suspension should only react to changes in load applied to the rear wheels. Finally, the zylon protections of the survival cell will have to be reinforced.

Other important notes

The qualifying procedure has been clarified following the current instability of the grid. In the case of 24 cars entered, 7 drivers will be eliminated after the first two qualifying sessions, 6 in the case of 22 cars, etc.

Jean Todt, President of the FIA, confirmed that the next meeting of the Strategy Group would be held on December 18. The program will be dense with the themes: reducing costs, improving the spectacle, making the cars faster and more difficult to drive and reviewing the technical and sporting regulations in order to simplify the rules.