After the 2024 season drew to a close, everyone has sights on what the new term will bring. Teams are preparing the latest cars to fight for the world championship, while drivers are preparing for another grueling season. However, they will all have to take on board the new F1 regulation changes to be introduced in 2025.
These new regulations are split into two categories, technical regulations and sporting regulations. The technical regulations are all about the car and drivers, while the sporting regulations outline everything from the points system to how qualifying is run. So what are the changes?
2025 regulation changes for the cars and drivers
The new safety regulation for drivers is the introduction of the cooling kit. This will be used for races where a temperature of 30.5C is predicted and a “heat hazard” is declared. This is to avoid a repeat of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix when many drivers felt ill after the searing temperatures. The car’s minimum weight will be increased by 5 KG to compensate for when the kit is used.
“Two or three drivers have taken themselves to the medical centre.”
Sky Sports F1 discuss the health concerns of the heat and racing at this time of the year in Qatar 🌡 pic.twitter.com/OQYPTylXiJ
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 8, 2023
The minimum weight for the driver has been increased by 2 kg to 82 kg. This also means the minimum weight of the car will be increased by 2 kg to 800 kg. This is to help protect the taller drivers who had to watch their weight more than others.
On the car, there are tighter rules about the slot gap while the drag reduction system (DRS) is in use. The minimum gap will be reduced from 10-15mm to 9.4-13mm. After the use of DRS, the wing must return exactly to its initial mode. The 2025 season is the last time we will see DRS.
Sporting regulation changes in 2025
Following the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2024, changes were made to how the grid will be set and qualifying procedures. If a car is withdrawn up to 75 minutes before lights out, that car will not be included in the final grid and any cars due to start behind them will move forwards.
As qualifying in Brazil was cancelled due to the weather conditions, the session to set the grid was held on the morning of the race. This will no longer happen, as the grid will be set in the drivers’ championship order. If this cannot happen, it will remain at the race stewards’ discretion.
Unfortunately, we won’t have any more track action today
Qualifying has been postponed until tomorrow morning 🌧️ #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/MumjtrbaCr
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) November 2, 2024
Other changes will see the point for the fastest lap dropped after it was introduced in the 2019 season. It is also good news for young drivers, as their inclusion in FP1 will be increased from once per season per car to two per season per car.
