As Formula 1 gears up for a revolutionary set of regulation changes in 2026, the 2025 season will serve as a transition year. While no drastic alterations are being made to car design, several important rule changes will impact race dynamics, team strategies, and driver comfort. From removing the fastest lap point to increased car weight and stricter enforcement on flexi-wings, here is a breakdown of the most significant changes coming in 2025.
Fastest Lap Point Scrapped
Since its return in 2019, the extra point for setting the fastest lap has been a strategic consideration in F1 races. Originally designed to add excitement and incentivize late-race pushes, the reality has been quite different. More often than not, a leading driver with a comfortable gap would simply pit for fresh tyres and claim the point with ease.
The tipping point for change came at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix when Daniel Ricciardo, a backmarker at the time, took the fastest lap and inadvertently affected the title battle by denying Lando Norris an extra point. This raised concerns over potential manipulation, and teams ultimately agreed to remove the rule for 2025. Now, drivers will have to focus purely on their finishing position to maximize points.
Car weight increases again
Formula 1 cars have been steadily increasing in weight due to larger power units, hybrid battery systems, and stricter safety regulations. For 2025, the minimum car weight is rising from 798 kilograms to 800 kilograms.
A key driver behind this change is fairness in driver weight distribution. The minimum driver weight allowance is increasing from 80 kilograms to 82 kilograms, helping to level the playing field for heavier drivers. Teams will need to adjust their ballast placement accordingly to maintain balance and aerodynamic efficiency.
New cooling system for drivers to combat extreme heat
Following the gruelling conditions at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where multiple drivers struggled with extreme heat and dehydration, the FIA is introducing a new cooling system.
When track temperatures are forecasted to exceed 30.5 degrees centigrade, the FIA will declare a heat hazard, requiring teams to install a battery-powered cooling vest for drivers. Developed by Chill Out Motorsports, this vest circulates coolant through a network of 48 meters of tubing embedded in a special undershirt. The cooling system will use a restricted set of liquids such as water or sodium chloride solutions to maintain consistency across teams.
Additionally, teams will be allowed to add an extra cooling scoop on the car’s nose and an aperture to increase airflow to the heat exchanger. To compensate for this equipment, the car’s minimum weight will be increased by another five kilograms when the cooling system is in use. This ensures teams do not suffer a competitive disadvantage for prioritizing driver safety.
Stricter regulations on flexi-wings
Flexible wings have long been a contentious issue in Formula 1. In 2023, McLaren caused a stir with its mini-DRS concept, where the rear wing subtly flexed at high speeds to reduce drag, helping Oscar Piastri win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
To prevent further exploitation, the FIA is reducing the allowable slot gap width from 10 to 15 millimetres to 9.4 to 13 millimetres. Additionally, new rules mandate that DRS bodywork can only exist in two fixed states, open or closed, with no flexibility in between. The transition between these states must occur in less than 400 milliseconds, effectively outlawing any aero-trickery teams may have been considering.
The crackdown extends to front wings as well, with a one-third increase in stiffness requirements for the standard load tests starting at the Spanish Grand Prix. This means teams that relied on subtle flexibility for aerodynamic advantages will need to rethink their designs.
Testing restrictions tightened but more rookie runs
To control costs and limit potential advantages from excessive testing, the FIA is implementing new restrictions on running previous-generation cars.
Teams will now be limited to 20 days of testing of previous cars per season, with current race drivers capped at 1,000 kilometres over a maximum of four days.
However, in a push to promote young talent, teams must increase their rookie practice outings from two to four sessions per season. A rookie is defined as a driver who has competed in fewer than two Grands Prix. This change ensures young drivers gain valuable track time before making the jump to a full-time race seat.
Clearer rules for setting the grid in disruptive conditions
The chaos of the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix exposed a gap in F1’s regulations regarding how the starting grid should be determined if qualifying cannot be completed.
Previously, stewards had the discretion to decide based on the most recent practice session. However, during sprint weekends, this led to confusion as it was unclear whether Free Practice One or Sprint Qualifying should dictate the order.
For 2025, the FIA has formalized a new rule. If qualifying cannot be held due to extreme weather or other circumstances, the grid will be based on the Drivers’ Championship standings.
Additionally, a change has been made to grid formation timing. Previously, if a car was withdrawn from the race shortly before the start, the grid was locked 75 minutes before lights out, meaning gaps remained. Now, final grid adjustments will be made up to one hour before the start, allowing positions to be shuffled forward if a driver is absent.
While 2025 will not see the sweeping technical changes coming in 2026, these rule tweaks will have a noticeable impact on racing. The removal of the fastest lap point simplifies scoring, increased car weight affects handling, and the introduction of cooling systems enhances driver safety in extreme conditions. Meanwhile, tighter flexi-wing rules aim to maintain fairness, testing restrictions curb excessive development, and new grid-setting regulations prevent confusion at chaotic weekends.
As always in F1, adaptability will be key. Teams that adjust quickest to these changes will gain a competitive edge, making 2025 an intriguing season before the sport enters a bold new era in 2026.
