The FIA has announced new guidelines on driving standards and penalty application for the 2026 Formula 1 season, seeking to make enforcement clearer and more flexible for drivers.
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Among the changes, it is highlighted that penalty points will only be applied in cases of dangerous, reckless, or deliberately risky actions that result in a collision, or in other unsportsmanlike behavior.
“More flexibility will be exercised by the Stewards in the application of these standards,” stated the entity, which also established four main caveats for the interpretation of the rules:
1. A car being overtaken or performing an overtake cannot simply ‘disappear’ from the track.
2. A wheel lock-up or a small steering correction does not necessarily imply that the driver lost control.
3. An apparent temporary loss of control or a wheel lock-up may be due to an attempt to avoid a collision or simply the laws of physics.
4. The apex (of a corner) may vary depending on the chosen trajectory and/or the nature of the corner itself.
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Additionally, the new rules detail the expected behavior under blue and yellow flags. For blue flags, stewards should consider it an infringement when a car delays an overtake unjustifiably, especially if it passes eight consecutive light panels or deliberately delays an overtake.
For yellow flags, eight assessment points have been established, including the need for the driver to demonstrate adequate speed reduction, attention to car control (acceleration, braking, and steering), and clear methods of proving compliance with the rules, such as increased lap times in signaled sectors. The FIA highlights that any loss of control under a yellow or double yellow flag will be investigated.
These changes reflect meetings held during the 2025 Qatar GP weekend, with ‘constructive contributions’ from drivers and the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association), and aim to align the rules with the real challenges faced by drivers on track, making Formula 1 fairer and more understandable.
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