What are the new rules for the 2025 F1 season?

Best lap point removed

First introduced at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, the point awarded to the fastest lap in the race, provided they finish in the top 10, disappears in 2025A driver can therefore score a maximum of 25 points in a Grand Prix, and 33 points in a Sprint weekend.

Minimum weight increased

The minimum weight increases from 798 to 800 kilograms, since the minimum weight allowed for the pilot (helmet and equipment included) increases from 80 kg to 82 kg. If a pilot does not reach 82 kg, then a ballast will be applied to him in order to reach the regulatory weight.

Aileron Control and Rigidity

The “Mini-DRS” effect is indirectly prohibited with details provided on the opening gap and flexibility of the rear wing. With the exception of the DRS, all aerodynamic components or bodywork influencing the aerodynamic performance of the car must be rigidly fixed and immobile relative to their reference frame defined in Article 3.3 of the 2025 Technical Regulations. At any point along the wingspan, the rear wing profiles must have a minimum gap of between 9,4 mm and 13 mm (between 10 mm and 15 mm in 2024).

McLaren F1 Team MCL38, mechanical detail of rear wing during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024, 17th round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship from September 13 to 15, 2024 on the Baku City Circuit, in Baku, Azerbaijan – Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

The FIA ​​has announced that it will tighten up its controls on wing flexibility with tests planned during the season, during Grand Prix weekends, via an update to Technical Directive No. 8 of its regulations concerning the flexibility of elements in F1. As such, rear wings will be subject to testing from the first Grand Prix of the season, in Australia (March 16), while the flexibility of front wings will be checked from the Spanish Grand Prix (June 1).

More Free Practice for Rookies

Teams must have a rookie driver participate in four Free Practice 1 sessions (two per car) over the entire season, compared to two in 2024 (one per car).

More regulated TPC sessions

Teams can only use one car per day, over nine-hour days from 9am to 00pm (with a one-hour break). TPCs are now restricted to 19 days per year, with a limit of 00 kilometres over four days for regular drivers, while reserve or development drivers do not have a specific mileage to respect. Finally, TPCs must be organised on FIA Grade 20 circuits, with a ban on driving on circuits listed on the calendar during the 1000 days preceding the event organised on that same circuit.

© Fabrizio Boldoni / DPPI

Cooling system available

A cooling kit is available for drivers when the temperature exceeds 30°C, with a cooling suit. Wearing this special suit is not mandatory in 2025, the obligation will only be effective from 2026. If a driver decides not to wear this cooling kit, he will be handicapped by a 500 gram ballast to be placed in the cockpit, in order to prevent teams from using this ballast for technical purposes for the performance of their car.

End of quotas for gearboxes

The rule concerning the quota of gearboxes authorized over a season, limited to five per driver until 2024, has been deletedThe FIA ​​explained that this measure was taken because "The reliability of current designs makes this restriction obsolete."

Revised procedures for the starting grid

If qualifying cannot take place for any reason, the starting order will be determined by the world championship standings. The rules regarding the formation lap have also been changed: if one or more drivers have to start from the pits, they must complete the formation lap and will be classified in the qualifying order.

The final starting grid will now be determined one hour before the start of the race. If a car is not fit to start up to 75 minutes before the start, it will not be included on the grid, and the cars qualifying behind it will gain one grid position.

Protocol for damaged cars

The race direction has the power to immediately stop a competitor on the track if the latter attempts to restart and/or return to the pits after an incident which has seriously damaged the single-seater, if the race directors consider that the manoeuvre is too dangerous.

Specific rule for the Monaco GP

For the next Monaco Grand Prix (May 25), Drivers will be required to make at least two pit stops, regardless of weather conditions.

© DPPI

Heavier fines for deviation

FIA has introduced a new sanctions grid for drivers who misbehave or make inappropriate comments in public, in front of the media or on the radio. Five specific points were classified: harm done to the FIA, behavioural problems, public incitement to violence or hatred, use of political or religious speeches, and finally any failure to comply with the FIA's instructions regarding the modalities of presence at competitions and end-of-year ceremonies.

This scale includes a gradation in the severity of the punishments given and also takes into account possible repeat offences. For an infringement of the FIA ​​in the case of a first offence, the penalty rate is 10 euros. This increases to 000 euros (+20 month suspended suspension) in the case of a first repeat offence and finally to 000 euros for a second repeat offence with a one-month suspension and a withdrawal of championship points.

The amount of these sanctions will be directly subject to multiplier coefficients applied according to the level of competition. For F1 drivers, who would represent the highest possible grade (4/4), the sanctions must therefore be multiplied by four: thus, the grade 1 offence goes from 10 euros to 000 euros, that of grade 40 to 000 euros and finally grade 2 to 80 euros.

ALSO READ > Verstappen and Norris joke about their relationship: "We had a fight in a bar the other day!"