The FIA have introduced six major changes to the Formula One rules ahead of the 2025 season opener in Melbourne.
While excitement begins to ramp up for the upcoming 2025 F1 season, some fans are already looking ahead to 2026 when the entire sport is expected shaken up by a brand new set of regulations.
However, fans would be wrong to assume that just because the 2026 season will see a broad set of changes, that 2025 will be the exact same as last season, as there will be a series of big changes this year.
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But what exactly is going to be different, and what could it mean for both the drivers and for fans?
Ahead of the 2025 season, the FIA revealed that there would be six key rule changes coming into force this year, and some could massively change the whole season.
1 - Fastest lap point removed
After deciding to reintroduce giving a point to the driver with the fastest lap back in 2019, Formula One has once again ditched it for the 2025 season.
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The decision came after some felt that more often than not the chase for the extra point ended in a let-down as drivers that had belt up a buffer on were able to pit for fresh tyres late in the race and easily set the fastest lap.
2 - McLaren's 'Mini DRS' is now banned
Last season, McLaren made headlines after it was revealed that they had designed their flexible rear wing to mean that at high speeds it would bend back, creating a gap that would reduce drag and therefore add to the car's straightline speed.
This controversial design later became known as mini DRS and, despite McLaren agreeing to modify their car after consultation with the FIA, the governing body have made some tweaks to the official rules to ensure this doesn't happen again next season.
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3 - New testing restrictions and change to free practice sessions.
Ahead of the 2025 testing, there have been several new limitations put in place for all 10 Formula One teams.
Throughout the season, testing involving cars that are between two and four years old is being limited.
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Previously teams could use these cars as much as they wanted in testing, but now this will be restricted to just 20 days across the entire season, with any driver competing in the championship limited to a total of 1000km between them over a maximum of four days.
4 - Car weight increases
It seems that every year the permitted weight for Formula 1 cars has increased, and that's no different in 2025.
For the new season, the minimum weight will increase from 798kg to 800kg due to a change to the minimum driver weight which is being increased from 80kg to 82kg.
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5 - Mandatory driver cooling system in extreme conditions
After drivers complained about the heat and humidity in Qatar in 2023, the FIA has decided to introduce a new cooling system this season.
Ahead of every race the FIA will assess the weather conditions and if forecast temperatures are in excess of 30.5°C - it will be deemed to be a Heat Hazard.
In this scenario, the minimum weight of the cars will be increased by 5kg as teams will me made to fit a special system that pumps a coolant around the driver's body.
There is also a change to rookie drivers in free practice, as the FIA have made it compulsory for teams to field a young driver in at least four outings across the season, double what it was last season.
6 - Organising chaotic qualifying sessions
After a dramatic Brazilian GP last year that led to Saturday qualifying potentially being cancelled, the FIA have imposed new rules to be applied in 'exceptional circumstances'.
From 2025, if it is not possible for a qualifying session to be carried out then the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix will be decided based upon the drivers' championship standings.
Topics: Motorsport, FIA, Formula 1
Ben McCrum