New F1 qualifying rules for 2010

UPDATE F1's governing body late on Wednesday published the sporting and technical regulations for the 2010 season. The headline amendments are the removal of the highly contentious budget cap and two-tier elements, but it was also confirmed that Bernie Ecclestone has once again failed to have his 'medals' scoring system implemented.

'Q3' qualifying, meanwhile, will be contested with low-fuel, with the FIA confirming that refueling "during a race is forbidden".

A mooted increase in testing for 2010 has not materialized, with only eight straight-line tests and limited running on "promotional" tires excluded from the strict in-season testing ban.

Additionally, wind tunnel testing is limited to 60 per cent (or smaller) scale models, and tunnel speeds capped at 50 meters per second.

Tire-warming blankets, however, have survived, and the eight-engines-per driver regulation remains in force despite speculation of a move to five engines.

Also remaining the same is the one-gearbox-per-four-races rule, but the car-plus-driver limit has increased to 620kg, with KERS to remain officially legal in 2010 despite the FOTA agreement to not use the energy-recovery systems.

08/19/09 From the new 2010 FIA F1 Sporting Regulations published today, Q1 and Q2 will eliminate 8 cars each and Q3 will be contested with 10 cars and with low fuel, unlike the past two years that required Q3 be run with the fuel you would start the race with.

The session will be run as follows :

a) From 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM (Q1) all cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest eight cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the eighteen remaining cars will then be deleted.

b) From 2:27 PM to 2:42 PM (Q2) the eighteen remaining cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest eight cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the ten remaining cars will then be deleted.

c) From 2:50 PM to 3:00 PM (Q3) the ten remaining cars will be permitted on the track. The above procedure is based upon a Championship entry of 26 cars. If 24 cars are entered seven will be excluded after Q1 and Q2 and if 22 cars are entered only six cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2.

Related to the Sporting Regulations are the new 2010 F1 Technical Regulations. Each car's minimum weight has been raised to 1367lbs, to take into account the added weight of KERS – which will still be allowed under next year's regulations