On Monday, the FIA announced several regulation changes that will debut in Formula 1 over the next few seasons.
Some of them will come into effect in 2014, others we will have to wait a little while longer for. However, they have sparked quite a reaction amongst the fans. Here's my view on the upcoming changes.
Of the five regulation changes confirmed in Monday's statement from the FIA, after a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group in Paris, two immediately jump out at me.
The first is the introduction of permanent numbers, meaning a driver will keep the same digit throughout their F1 career unless they take the title, where they will receive the number one if they choose to use it.
I see why this has been added to the regulations. In other sports, like MotoGP, it has proved to be a success and provides plenty of new marketing and promotional angles. Some athletes are known for the number that they carry and this association isn't particularly new to F1: Nigel Mansell famously drove the red five Williams and Gilles Villeneuve raced for Ferrari with the number 27.
However, I'm not sure it was really necessary. I like the current system, as it displays the achievement and success of a team. Red Bull Racing worked hard to win the constructors' title and with it the opportunity to race with cars number one and two, that is something that they can be proud of and shows that they out-raced their 10 rivals.
It represents the success that the team has had in the previous year's championship. For example, a lower team like Marussia or Caterham would be ecstatic to start the season outside of the 20s, or even getting into single digits.
I think the current system is fine, so why the need to change it? I just think it is an unnecessary addition that could create confusion in the short run, although I'm sure in the long run we will all get used to it and it will benefit the sport.
Still, it is a better idea than the second rule change that I'm going to talk about: Double points for the 2014 season finale. I, again, understand why this idea has been implemented but I'm still not a fan.
The FIA want the drivers' and constructors' titles to go down to the wire. The 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix viewing figures dropped considerably in the UK, partly due to Sebastian Vettel's dominance in the drivers' standings and with no fight for either title.
From 2014 onwards, the points at the season finale will be worth double the current system. So a winner will be rewarded with 50 points, rather than 25, with second place scoring 36 points, 30 for third and so on throughout the top 10.
So the idea is that at least two drivers will be in with a shot of the championship by the final race. For 2014, that will be the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: A race that is held at a spectacular venue but often produces relatively underwhelming on-track action.
Some fans are wondering why a race at the Yas Marina Circuit is now worth twice as much as a grand prix around the legendary Spa circuit, or the famous Monaco Grand Prix. However, it isn't about the race itself, although it could have been done to add a bit of spice to the race. It is about keeping focus on the title battle.
If the ruling was currently in place, Lewis Hamilton would still be searching for his first title, Fernando Alonso would be a three-time world champion and Kimi Raikkonen would be a two-time title holder. However, these seasons would have arguably ended in less dramatic fashion because of it.
I do think it could add some excitement, particularly if the championship battle is close, with several drivers involved and no clear runaway leader, but in general I'm not a fan. It is a gimmick, and I don't think it is necessarily fair.
Formula 1 is all about consistency, scoring points across the whole season and not just starring in a handful of races. What if a driver has a 49 point lead in the championship but is taken out during the final race or suffers a mechanical problem, which means they lose it by one point? Yes, it will be dramatic but I don't think this is right. It shouldn't just be about one race; it is about who does the best job for the entire season.
I just don't think it is, again, a necessary change, as the current points system - which debuted in 2010 - has already helped create close championship battles. Think of 2010 and 2012, those went down to the wire and we didn't need this little double points trick.
The reaction to this particularly rule has been overwhelmingly negative, so we could see it being changed before the start of the season. I hope so anyway. Sebastian Vettel has even branded the changes "absurd" when taking to German website Sport Bild.
However, there were two rule changes that I do agree with. The first was to change the 2013 F1 Sporting Regulations to allow Pirelli to complete a tyre test next week in Bahrain with the 2014 compounds.
They didn't gather much data from the Brazilian Grand Prix, where prototype 2014 rubber was brought to test, due to the weather so this three-day test was needed to help develop the tyres for next season and to make sure - most importantly - that they are safe.
All 11 teams were invited and six accepted, although it has now been confirmed that McLaren and Force India have pulled out. The five teams who didn't accept are those who we understand to be struggling financially, which leads on to the next regulation change.
A cost cap will come into force in 2015, limiting spending to create more workable budgets for all teams. This will undoubtedly have the biggest impact on the sport and I think it will be positive, although making sure the teams stick to the limit will take quite a lot of work and policing.
We don't know much more about the cap other than the fact that a working group will be established in the next few days and that it will be applied by January 2015. This rule is vital for the survival of the sport, as it will - hopefully - help the smaller teams to catch up.
What do you make of the recently announced rule changes? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Sportlobster.
 |
| (c) FIA |
Of the five regulation changes confirmed in Monday's statement from the FIA, after a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group in Paris, two immediately jump out at me.
The first is the introduction of permanent numbers, meaning a driver will keep the same digit throughout their F1 career unless they take the title, where they will receive the number one if they choose to use it.
I see why this has been added to the regulations. In other sports, like MotoGP, it has proved to be a success and provides plenty of new marketing and promotional angles. Some athletes are known for the number that they carry and this association isn't particularly new to F1: Nigel Mansell famously drove the red five Williams and Gilles Villeneuve raced for Ferrari with the number 27.
 |
| (c) Octane Photographic |
However, I'm not sure it was really necessary. I like the current system, as it displays the achievement and success of a team. Red Bull Racing worked hard to win the constructors' title and with it the opportunity to race with cars number one and two, that is something that they can be proud of and shows that they out-raced their 10 rivals.
It represents the success that the team has had in the previous year's championship. For example, a lower team like Marussia or Caterham would be ecstatic to start the season outside of the 20s, or even getting into single digits.
I think the current system is fine, so why the need to change it? I just think it is an unnecessary addition that could create confusion in the short run, although I'm sure in the long run we will all get used to it and it will benefit the sport.
Still, it is a better idea than the second rule change that I'm going to talk about: Double points for the 2014 season finale. I, again, understand why this idea has been implemented but I'm still not a fan.
The FIA want the drivers' and constructors' titles to go down to the wire. The 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix viewing figures dropped considerably in the UK, partly due to Sebastian Vettel's dominance in the drivers' standings and with no fight for either title.
From 2014 onwards, the points at the season finale will be worth double the current system. So a winner will be rewarded with 50 points, rather than 25, with second place scoring 36 points, 30 for third and so on throughout the top 10.
So the idea is that at least two drivers will be in with a shot of the championship by the final race. For 2014, that will be the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: A race that is held at a spectacular venue but often produces relatively underwhelming on-track action.
 |
| (c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
Some fans are wondering why a race at the Yas Marina Circuit is now worth twice as much as a grand prix around the legendary Spa circuit, or the famous Monaco Grand Prix. However, it isn't about the race itself, although it could have been done to add a bit of spice to the race. It is about keeping focus on the title battle.
If the ruling was currently in place, Lewis Hamilton would still be searching for his first title, Fernando Alonso would be a three-time world champion and Kimi Raikkonen would be a two-time title holder. However, these seasons would have arguably ended in less dramatic fashion because of it.
I do think it could add some excitement, particularly if the championship battle is close, with several drivers involved and no clear runaway leader, but in general I'm not a fan. It is a gimmick, and I don't think it is necessarily fair.
Formula 1 is all about consistency, scoring points across the whole season and not just starring in a handful of races. What if a driver has a 49 point lead in the championship but is taken out during the final race or suffers a mechanical problem, which means they lose it by one point? Yes, it will be dramatic but I don't think this is right. It shouldn't just be about one race; it is about who does the best job for the entire season.
I just don't think it is, again, a necessary change, as the current points system - which debuted in 2010 - has already helped create close championship battles. Think of 2010 and 2012, those went down to the wire and we didn't need this little double points trick.
The reaction to this particularly rule has been overwhelmingly negative, so we could see it being changed before the start of the season. I hope so anyway. Sebastian Vettel has even branded the changes "absurd" when taking to German website Sport Bild.
However, there were two rule changes that I do agree with. The first was to change the 2013 F1 Sporting Regulations to allow Pirelli to complete a tyre test next week in Bahrain with the 2014 compounds.
 |
| (c) Mercedes AMG Petronas |
They didn't gather much data from the Brazilian Grand Prix, where prototype 2014 rubber was brought to test, due to the weather so this three-day test was needed to help develop the tyres for next season and to make sure - most importantly - that they are safe.
All 11 teams were invited and six accepted, although it has now been confirmed that McLaren and Force India have pulled out. The five teams who didn't accept are those who we understand to be struggling financially, which leads on to the next regulation change.
A cost cap will come into force in 2015, limiting spending to create more workable budgets for all teams. This will undoubtedly have the biggest impact on the sport and I think it will be positive, although making sure the teams stick to the limit will take quite a lot of work and policing.
We don't know much more about the cap other than the fact that a working group will be established in the next few days and that it will be applied by January 2015. This rule is vital for the survival of the sport, as it will - hopefully - help the smaller teams to catch up.
What do you make of the recently announced rule changes? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Sportlobster.
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