Formula 1 announces change in curfew rules for 2023 season
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Formula 1 will be amending the 'curfew' rules for 2023, with further amendments planned for the following seasons.
During a mandated curfew time, technicians of Formula 1 teams are not allowed to work on the car, done to guarantee that all staff members have an optimal and healthy amount of rest before the main event. Currently, the personnel are under three curfews, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
These are called the ‘Restricted Periods’. RP1 is for Wednesday, RP2 for Thursday, and RP3 for Friday, respectively. Currently, RP3 commences 13 before FP3 is set to start. For 2023, this ‘curfew’ period will be extended to 14 hours, and then a further one-hour addition to it will take place in 2024, bringing it up to 15 hours.
There will also be a reduction in the number of curfew exceptions i.e. how many times a team is allowed to break a particular curfew. RP1 currently has eight exceptions, which will be reduced to four in 2023, and further to two in 2024. RP2 will be reduced from the current six to three for 2023, and then two in 2024, but RP3 will have no reductions, and the number of curfew exceptions will remain at two.
Also Read: The 2023 Formula 1 Calendar may have 25 races
The change in rules is to improve the well-being of staff
The 2022 regulations will also be tweaked from this weekend’s French Grand Prix, and staff will be able to stay an extra hour on the paddock than they currently can, but they cannot undertake any ‘operational’ activities during this time period, with the extra time’s use being for socializing and exercise, etc, as reported by Motorsport.
Clarifying what ‘operational activities’ means, the rules also state: “This includes and is not limited to work on the cars or car components necessary to operate the cars and engineers working on computers. Failure to comply with this will be treated as a breach of the relevant Restricted Period.”
The change in rules is seen as a move to promote the general well-being of staff members, with them being given an extra hour for activities on the paddock aside from their work commitments.
Also Read: Formula 1 to crack down on fans stealing property from the track
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)