The Bahrain Grand Prix marks the start of a new season, with significant regulation changes from the FIA taking center stage. In particular, stricter rules on impeding and important changes to the Parc Fermé regime are emerging, two issues that have dominated the scene during 2023.
The Formula 1 code is notoriously extensive and subject to frequent changes. In fact, the 2024 season opens with changes to the regulations of the FIA's top category starting from this weekend in Bahrain.
In primo luogo, there are changes regarding impediments, often protagonists in past qualifying sessions, which the race director in Bahrain, Niels Wittich, is trying to reduce by implementing stricter rules. Currently, in the event of impediment, the Commissioners can inflict penalties on the starting grid, with a minimum of three positions to be served on the Sunday grid (or Saturday in the case of the Sprint Race). Already in 2023, the regulation had undergone a change, with the introduction of a time limit to be respected between the two Safety Car lines starting from the Italian Grand Prix. This year, to avoid penalties in Bahrain, drivers will have to maintain a set maximum time in each sector of the track on both the first and second lines of the Safety Car.
It was also underlined to the drivers the obligation to move off the line during the three straights following the start, in case they approach a car engaged in its own fast lap.
Changes also to the Parc Fermé regime
If we think about the concept of Parc Fermé, or Park Fermé regime, it is difficult not to remember the 2023 Austin Grand Prix. The disqualifications of Leclerc and Hamilton, caused by excessive wear of the bottom, have raised the debate on the activation of the Parc Fermé as early as Friday, even during the Sprint weekends, leaving the cars without the possibility of changing the set-up for the entire weekend, with the only possible intervention being a starting penalty from the pit lane, resulting in the loss of the positions obtained in qualifying.
Although it had been the subject of discussion, only from this season the regulation provides for an effective change. With the aim of granting greater freedom to the teams, there will be two different activation situations of the Parc Fermé during the Sprint weekends: the first from the beginning of qualifying until the check after the Sprint Race, and the second from Saturday morning until the end of the Sunday race. This will allow the teams to intervene on the set-up of the cars between the end of the Sprint Race and the start of the main race on Sunday, optimizing performance based on the data collected.
Starting this season, lThe Federation has also reconsidered the use of the third car in exceptional circumstances, precisely defining what it includes: frame, elements of the Power Unit and other components already assembled, even partially. The teams will not be able to have a third complete car available during the Grands Prix but only in the event of serious accidents, subject to authorization from the FIA, will they be able to replace the chassis, with the opportunity to also operate under the Parc Fermé regime.
