FIA: New Formula 1 Rule Changes Introduced for 2023

The 2023 Formula 1 Season will look a bit different in 2023. The FIA have released a variety of rule changes for 2023 and they are as follows.

Ride High Adjusted to Counter “Propoising” issue from 2022

“Porpoising” was a major issue for some of the teams in the 2022 Formula 1 season so the FIA made a rule change to tackle these issues an improve rideability of the cars. “Porpoising” occurs when a car’s base gets too close to the ground and causes airflow to stall and build up back pressure, forcing the car to spring upwards unpredictably. The minimum ride height of the cars has been raised by 15mm to counter act this issue. In an effort to better understand this unique problem, new sensors will also be installed to measure vertical and horizontal forces in the car floors that may be influencing the propoising motion felt by many on grid. The FIA is confident that these changed and new data gathering will improve drivability for the cars on grid and improve on track safety.

Minimum car Weight
The minimum car weight has dropped by 2 kg. We anticipate this change will be more important in the later stages of the race when fuel management becomes key. As the cars race, the weight of fuel decreases due to consumption. Too much fuel at the end of the race and your car might not be as fast because it is carrying more weight than necessary for that stage in the race. We will stay tuned to see if this technical change has any recognizable effects.

Increasing the width of the reflective surface in wing mirrors – by 50mm from 150mm to 200mm.

Roll hoops: The new rules for 2023 state that a rounded top is required on the roll hoop, which will reduce the chance of it digging into the ground during an accident. This change was influenced by Zhou Guanyu’s British Grand Prix Crash in 2022.

A trial of a new qualifying format will be implemented at two events “for the purpose of evaluating whether the revisions are suitable for subsequent championships”. It will involve mandating a certain tire type for cars for a particular section of qualifying. More details to come on this as there isn’t much known about the format at the time of publishing this article.

More Sprint Races, Double the amount in fact

Formula 1 have dubbed this change as an ‘exciting development’, as they announce there are now six sprint races in the season’s calendar – up from three last year.

Grid Penalty Clarification

The language regarding the rules on gird penalties has received minor updates:

“Classified drivers who have accrued more than 15 cumulative grid position penalties, or who have been penalized to start at the back of the grid, will start behind any other classified driver. Their relative position will be determined in accordance with their qualifying classification.”

Points changes for shorter races

An F1 rule has been written to ensure reduced points are given for shortened races this season. A rewording of the previous rules now reads: “to ensure that shorter races have reduced points even if they don’t finish with a suspended race.” This is important given the risks associated with heavy rain and wind conditions red flagging races indefinitely. Points awarded for shortened races can have major implications for championship fights. Previously the FIA explained the reduced points rule only applied when a race was suspended and did not restart.

Team member curfews Teams will be allotted less time for work around the paddock on a race weekend. All teams will be subject to the reductions so how teams use their time in the paddock will be more important.

You can find a comprehensive listing of all of the 2023 rules for Formula 1 here.

Television viewership in the United States (US) has been on the decline in recent years. Some forecast a drop of 2.8 million viewers in the United States from 2023 to 2024 in viewership. Despite this drop in interest due to the US streaming market controlling over 50% of viewership; Formula 1 saw its largest rises in viewership ever in 2022. The Formula 1 race culture is expanding into US markets and this new found interest is coinciding very well with the FIA announcing 3 US races for the 2023 season and the debut of American Driver Logan Sargeant with Williams Racing.

The first race in the US will take place in Miami for the crypto.com Miam Grand Prix street circuit 05-May 5-7th 2023. Race 2 will take place at Circuit of the Americas October 20-22nd 2023 and Race 3; the newest race addition will be in Las Vegas later in November 2023.

ESPN reports the average Formula 1 viewership hit 1.21 million viewers in 2022 which reflects a 28% increase compared to the prior year. Younger viewers were up significantly. Viewers aged 12-17 were up 49 percent over 2021, averaging 36,000 viewers per race and persons aged 18-34 averaged 238,000 viewers per race, up 43 percent over 2021, and persons aged 25-34 averaged 169,000 viewers per race, up 46 percent over 2021. Formula 1 is contracted to appear on ESPN until 2025 and the organization will be looking to continue to capitalize on this new wave of viewership.

In 2023 Americans will also have another reason to watch. American Logan Sargeant signed with Williams Racing last year after coming off of a notable performance in Formula 2 with Carlin Motorsport finishing 4^th in the championship. Sargeant will be racing alongside teammate Alex Albon who is a 4 year veteran in Formula 1. Sargeant will be a rookie in the field but he has also made it very clear that he is not afraid to forge his legacy in his maiden campaign. In an interview with Racer Sargeant said, “I think at the end of the day, I have to trust myself”, referring to whether Albon was providing any mentorship. “I have to trust my instincts and what I feel. I plan to not   on him (Alex Albon) too much, I feel like I have to stand for myself and go through the hard times and the good times and experience all the different things and ultimately that’s what’ll make you better. I want to make this transition as quick and easy as possible – I know there’s going to be challenges, but hopefully I can get on top of it quickly.”

With ownership of the Haas F1 team by American Gene Haas and rumors flying surrounding Andretti Autosports’ bid for entry into Formula 1. It’s looking like America will be invested heavily and you can be rest assured those investing in the America audience will want to capitalize on this new found interest.

With the start of the 2023 season right around the corner, expectations will be high and the audience in the US will be larger than ever. The stage has been set for Formula 1 to expand exponentially in the US market and we will keep you up to date on the developments that come out of this jam packed 23 race calendar.

After a 20 plus year absence, Ford is returning to Formula 1 racing with Oracle Redbull Racing. Ford has a rich legacy in Formula 1. Their previous stents with Lotus and Graham Hill resulted in 10 constructors’ championships and 13 drivers’ championships. They are no strangers to the grueling technological and hefty financial investment it takes to produce competitive power units at the highest level of auto racing.

In a press release by FIA, Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, commented: “Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company – increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences. In 2026, Formula 1 will be operating under new regulations requiring more electric focused cars and sustainable fuels. In June of 2022 Ford invested 3.7 billion in its electric vehicle (EV) programs which marked a pivotal point in their future for research and development.

There will be limitations to this arrangement. Due to the FIA’s ruling deeming Ford not being considered a new power unit manufacturer, this partnership will not retain all of the  budget advantages afforded to teams who utilize new power unit manufacturers. Redbull powertrains previously would have received this advantage but due to the partnership with Ford they will lose out on 10% of resources or about $2.5 million in development. Whether or not this loss will have a noticeable impact is yet to be determined. However, Formula 1 fans around the world are welcoming Ford back to the sport and we are looking forward to seeing how they perform with Redbull Racing.

For more information on the new 2026 FIA power unit regulations click here.

Lewis Hamilton is arguably one of the most popular and influential motorsport icons in history. The seven time world champion remains competitive in the field and many are asking if he still has unfinished business after falling short of the world title the last two years to Max Verstappen of Red Bull F1 Racing team. It is no surprise however that his accomplishments continue to command large salaries. Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team expires in Dec 2023 leaving the task to secure a seat after the 2023 season paramount if Hamilton wishes to extend his legacy to an 8^th world championship. Hamilton and Mercedes Petronas have reportedly both expressed interest in retaining their current relationship however contract structure and pay appear to be a looming hurdle for the team and Hamilton to sort out.

It is rumored that Hamilton has been offered a £120 million salary over two years that would extend his presence as a racer in F1 until 2025. This contract would also include 25 million per year in salary for an ambassador role for a 10 year engagement. The deal sounds lucrative for the 7 time world champion and with the start of the 2023 season, Hamilton will want to get this contract signed as soon as possible to secure his seat and chance at extending his legacy. We will keep you updated on the developments surrounding the final contract.

In the interim keep your eye out for the Netflix series Drive to Survive set for release February 24, 2023. You can read more about here.