LAW REORDER 

FIA announce TWELVE rule changes to F1 just three races into the season after Max Verstappen quit threat

THE FIA have announced TWELVE rule changes just three races into the new Formula One season.

The sport’s governing body made a major overhaul in the off-season to bring in a raft of updated laws, largely around new engines.

New Formula One changes are coming in for the Miami Grand PrixCredit: Alamy
 

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Max Verstappen threatened to quit the sport after the off-season updatesCredit: PA
Mercedes have made a lightning start with George Russell taking the first chequered flag before back-to-back victories for teen Kimi Antonelli.

But four-time world champ Max Verstappen continues to make no secret of his dissatisfaction at the adjustments and even threatened to quit F1 in protest.

However, the FIA responded by confirming a swathe of “refinements to the regulations” on Monday.

The refresh was proposed following a meeting between the FIA, team principals, CEOs of power unit manufacturers and Formula One Management.

Drivers were also consulted prior to the changes coming into effect, which will happen after an e-vote before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

That is the fourth race of the season – coming five weeks after the third – following the cancellation of Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

And the FIA took advantage of the unexpected break to draft up the revisions.

The 12 changes are split into four main areas: qualifying, races, wet conditions and starts.

The qualifying edits are focused on “reducing harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving” rather than having drivers coasting and super-clipping.

The in-race changes centre around sudden speed changes at different deployment levels are not dangerous, especially after Oliver Bearman’s scary crash at Suzuka.

There were concerns over the sheer power of the new engines and the updated rules allow warmer tyre blankets to “improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions” as well as a “simplification” of rear light systems.

A new “low-power start detection system” will be trialled in Miami as part of the changes to the lights-out procedure which has become more difficult and hazardous.

Should the start changes be successful, they will likely get pushed through and ratified.

Oliver Bearman crashed out in JapanCredit: Alamy
 

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Kimi Antonelli has won the last two racesCredit: Alamy