F1 has barred teams from developing cars for the new regulation overhaul due in 2022 for the remainder of the year.
The World Motor Sport Council issued a statement yesterday confirming it had approved several changes to the sport’s technical regulations in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The most significant of the changes was a ban on all aerodynamic development for the 2022 regulations during 2020.
The WMSC also confirmed a new shutdown period has been introduced for all power unit manufacturers.
While all teams are currently undergoing their mandatory three-week factory closure, engine arms such as Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains that were previously exempt have now been forced to follow suit.
The three-week shutdown now has the potential to be extended “in the event that public health concerns or government restrictions continue beyond the shutdown period initially envisaged”.
Changes have also been confirmed for the each team’s power unit component allocation should the calendar be shortened to less than 14 races.
“Should the number of races in the Championship drop to 14 or less, each driver may use no more than 2 engines (ICE), 2 motor generator units-heat (MGU-H), 2 turbochargers (TC), 2 energy stores (ES), 2 control electronics (CE) and 2 motor generator units-kinetic (MGU-K),” read the updated regulations.
“Should the number of races in the Championship drop to 11 or less, each driver may use no more than 2 engines (ICE), 2 motor generator units-heat (MGU-H), 2 turbochargers (TC), 1 energy store (ES), 1 control electronics (CE) and 2 motor generator units-kinetic (MGU-K).”
FIA President Jean Todt has also been granted the authority “to take any decisions in connection with the organisation of international competitions for the 2020 season, which may be required as a matter of urgency” in order to deal with requests for postponements and/or cancellations “without delay”.
Despite all these changes, the revised regulations will continue to outlaw Mercedes’ controversial Dual-Axis System (DAS) from next season.