Testing back on the F1 agenda next year

Formula One teams will be allowed to hold tests at four two-day sessions next year, the sport’s ruling body announced today.

A meeting of the World Motorsport Council of the International Motoring Federation (FIA) confirmed testing would be permitted in 2014 instead of current arrangements for promotional days and young driver tests.

The FIA said: “Four two-day track tests will be allowed in season in place of the current eight one-day promotional days and the three-day young driver test.

“These will take place at tracks in Europe on the Tuesday and Wednesday after a race in order to ensure minimal additional resources are necessary.

“Track testing will now also be permitted in January 2014 in order to allow earlier testing of the new power units.”

The meeting also decided to approve a ban on stepped noses on Formula One cars next year.

“Measures have been put in place to ensure that the cars do not incorporate a step in the chassis behind the nose,” said the FIA statement.

“These changes will also ensure that a genuine low nose, introduced for safety reasons, is always used.”

FIA also confirmed the introduction of a penalty points system under which drivers will be handed penalties of between one and three points depending on the severity of an individual offence.

Drivers will then be given a one-race ban when they have collected 12 points on their licence.

Any points accrued will stay on a driver’s licence for 12 months.

The governing body also confirmed that a “procedure for a driver to be given the chance to give back any advantage he may have gained by leaving the track has been adopted”.