The FIA has given the F1 teams new guidelines on the use of radio messages following the controversy at the British GP.
One area has been relaxed, as restrictions now apply when the car is out of the pit lane, rather than the garage.
However, there are now stricter guidelines on discussion of problems, which must now lead to a pit stop where the issue can be addressed.
Here are the key changes, with the first detailing when the rules apply:
Old: At all times the car is out of the garage with the engine running and the driver onboard (with the exception of any time the car is in the pit lane on the day of the race prior to or between reconnaissance laps). This includes all in laps.
New: At all times the car is out of the pit lane with the engine running and the driver on board (with the exception of the slowing down lap once the driver has crossed the Line at the end of the race).
Old: Indication of a critical problem with the car, any message of this sort may only be used if failure of a component or system is imminent and potentially terminal.
New: Indication of a problem with the car, any message of this sort must include an irreversible instruction to enter the pits to rectify the problem or to retire the car.
Old: Information concerning damage to the car.
New: Information concerning damage to the bodywork of the car.
Old: Instructions to select driver defaults for the sole purpose of mitigating loss of function of a sensor, actuator or controller whose degradation or failure was not detected and handled by the on-board software. In accordance with Article 8.2.4, any new setting chosen in this way must not enhance the performance of the car beyond that prior to the loss of function.
New: Instructions to select driver defaults, this must be for the sole purpose of mitigating loss of function of a sensor, actuator or controller whose degradation or failure was not detected and handled by the on-board software. It will be the responsibility of any team giving any such instruction to satisfy the FIA technical delegate that this was the case and that any new setting chosen in this way did not enhance the performance of the car beyond that prior to the loss of function.
