The FIA is once again changing the regulations for the 2025 F1 season with two substantial modifications that remove certain advantages teams previously could exploit. The changes concern formation laps and the return to the pits of damaged cars. Here’s what they specifically entail and what is changing.
What is changing in the FIA regulations for the 2025 F1 season?
Article 43.8 of the F1 sporting regulations has been modified so that all cars starting from the pit lane must join the formation lap. Previously, these cars would leave the pits only when the grid was formed, without taking part in the formation lap.
New Rules for Pit Lane Starts
Now, at the end of the formation lap, drivers starting from the pit lane will return to the pits and line up according to their qualifying order—unless they have positioned themselves after the five-minute signal before the start. In that case, they must join the back of the group for the formation lap.
This change closes several loopholes that teams could have exploited. In the past, cars starting from the pit lane could complete additional formation laps or participate in those conducted behind the safety car in heavy rain conditions, potentially gaining a strategic advantage. Furthermore, in the event of an aborted start with an extra formation lap, these cars could benefit from an additional lap of fuel, even though the race distance was reduced.
Another situation involved wet races: a car in the pit lane could wait for conditions to improve and start directly on intermediate tires, whereas the others would have to make a pit stop to switch from full wet tires.
With the new rule, all cars starting from the pit lane must complete every formation lap before returning to the pits. This prevents any unintended advantage.
New Rule for Damaged Cars
Another major change concerns the return to the pits of damaged cars. Now, the race director has the power to order a team to immediately stop its car if it poses a danger.
Although the FIA clarified that the change does not stem from a specific 2024 incident, an illustrative example comes from the Canadian GP. In that case, Sergio Perez brought his car back to the pits with a destroyed rear wing, scattering debris on the track. The incident led to a three-place grid penalty for the following Spanish GP and a €25,000 fine for Red Bull. The behavior was deemed an attempt to avoid triggering the safety car, which could have disadvantaged Max Verstappen.
The new rule states that any car with evident structural damage or significant failures that make it dangerous for the driver or other competitors must leave the track as soon as possible. At the race director’s discretion, the team may receive a direct order to stop the car immediately.
This change speeds up the application of the black-and-orange flag rule, which mandates a return to the pits for repairs. This system has been controversial since 2022, as some slightly damaged cars had continued racing, prompting the FIA to limit its use.
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