Formula 1: All The 2025 F1 Season Rule Changes You Need To Know

These modifications range from scoring adjustments to driver safety measures and testing restrictions.

Formula 1 2025 Season rule changes

Here are all the upcoming rule changes you need to know about:

1. Restricted testing for race drivers

Testing regulations have been tightened for the 2025 season, particularly regarding race drivers’ participation.

While teams can conduct up to 20 days of Testing of Previous Car (TPC) running annually, race drivers are now limited to just four of these days and cannot exceed 1000km of running in total.

However, this restriction applies only to testing with cars at least two seasons old and doesn’t affect tyre testing or promotional events with current machinery.

Additionally, teams are now permitted to have only one TPC car available during a test session.

2. Updated qualifying classifications

Following challenges experienced during the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, F1 has updated its qualifying regulations for exceptional circumstances.

If stewards determine a qualifying session cannot take place, typically due to severe weather, the grid will now be formally set according to the current Drivers’ Championship standings.

The sport has also introduced a clearer tiebreaker system for situations where multiple drivers fail to set times in Q2, Q3 or their Sprint Qualifying equivalents.

Classification will be based first on whether they started flying laps, and if competitors still cannot be separated, their order from the previous qualifying segment will be used.

3. Expanded rookie driver opportunities

F1 has doubled the mandatory running time for rookie drivers during race weekends for 2025.

Teams are now required to field drivers who have participated in two or fewer F1 races during four practice sessions per season–twice per car, up from the previous requirement of once per car since 2022.

This change ensures greater track time for developing drivers during official F1 weekends and provides more opportunities for teams to evaluate young talent in a competitive setting.

4. Stricter DRS regulations

Technical regulations surrounding the Drag Reduction System have been strengthened for 2025 to eliminate creative interpretations.

The rules now clearly define only two positions for DRS: open and closed, preventing “mini-DRS” concepts where wing elements would tilt backwards at high speeds to reduce drag beyond the intended design.

Testing of rear wing slot gaps has become more stringent, increasing the applied load from 10 to 30 newtons.

Additional regulations pending approval include new deflection limits for upper rear wings and stricter front wing deflection limits scheduled to be introduced from the Barcelona round onwards.

5. Fastest lap point removed

The bonus point awarded since 2019 for setting the fastest lap has been scrapped for the 2025 season.

This change eliminates a controversial scoring element that often led to drivers making late pit stops for fresh tyres solely to chase the extra point.

It also removes situations where drivers outside the top 10 would attempt to deny rivals the bonus without benefiting themselves.

The standard points system remains unchanged, with points awarded to the top 10 finishers in Grands Prix and the top 8 in Sprint races.

6. Mandatory driver cooling systems

F1 has introduced new safety measures for extreme heat conditions in 2025. When temperatures are forecast to reach 31C or above during a Sprint or Grand Prix, a Heat Hazard will be declared, requiring teams to fit mandated driver cooling systems.

These systems consist of a fireproof shirt with cooling tubes, a pump, plumbing and a thermal store such as an ice block.

When implemented, the weight limit increases by 2kg for practice and qualifying sessions, and by a more substantial 5kg for Sprint races and Grands Prix to accommodate the full system with cooling fluid.