2017 F1 calendar confirmed, FIA closes engine penalty loophole

The FIA held its latest World Motor Sport Council meeting today in Paris.

During the meeting, the following decisions were taken:

FIA Formula One World Championship

The World Motor Sport Council approved the provisional calendar for the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship:

— March 26 Australia (Melbourne)
— April 9 China (Shanghai)
— April 16 Bahrain (Sakhir)
— April 30 Russia (Sochi)
— May 14 Spain (Barcelona)
— May 28 Monaco
— June 11 Canada (Montreal)*
— June 18 Europe (Baku)
— July 2 Austria (Red Bull Ring)
— July 9 Britain (Silverstone)
— July 23 Hungary (Hungaroring)
— July 30 Germany (Hockenheim)*
— August 27 Belgium (Spa)
— September 3 Italy (Monza)
— September 17 Malaysia (Sepang)
— October 1 Singapore (Marina Bay)
— October 8 Japan (Suzuka)
— October 22 United States (Austin)
— November 5 Mexico (Mexico City)
— November 12 Brazil (Interlagos)*
— November 26 Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

* Subject to confirmation

The World Motor Sport Council confirmed changes to Appendices 6 and 8 of the 2017 F1 Sporting Regulations which clarify outsourcing arrangements and conduct permitted regarding Listed Parts, Non-Listed Parts, wind tunnel testing and personnel transfer between teams engaged in a working or developmental relationship.

A new procedure regarding wet weather starts was also accepted. From 2017, if a safety car is deemed to be required for the beginning of a race due to wet weather, a normal standing start will occur once the track is deemed safe to race. The process will see the safety car return to the pit lane and the cars assemble on the grid for the start.

Drivers must continue to present their helmets in substantially the same livery at every event of the FIA Formula One World Championship for easy recognition of the driver in the car, however a driver will now be allowed one event (such as a home race) for a special livery (at the driver’s choice). Drivers will also be allowed to change their helmet liveries if changing teams during the season.

During any single event, if a driver introduces more than one of a power unit element that is subject to penalty, only the last element fitted may be used at subsequent events without further penalty. This is to prevent the stockpiling of spare power unit elements.

For the first five events of the 2017 Championship season only, the normal team selection procedure for tyres will not be used as the deadline occurs before pre-season testing. For these events the supplier will allocate two sets of the hardest compound specification, four sets of the medium compound specification and seven sets of the softest compound specification to each driver.