Formula One Celebrates 75 Years with Major Rule Changes Ahead of the 2025 Season
As Formula One gears up to commemorate its remarkable 75-year history, fans can expect a host of exciting changes for the upcoming season. Among the most notable developments is the introduction of SEVEN fresh rule modifications aimed at enhancing the racing experience. With Lewis Hamilton embarking on his inaugural season with Ferrari, he is poised to chase his eighth world title amidst these pivotal changes.
The 2025 season will feature new regulations that are set to benefit rookie drivers, such as Kimi Antonelli, who will enjoy increased opportunities for track time and experience. One of the most significant adjustments involves the elimination of the extra point previously awarded for achieving the fastest lap during a race. This rule, which had been in effect since 2019, allowed a driver to earn an additional point by finishing the fastest lap within the top ten. Now, drivers will have to focus solely on their race performance without the added incentive of a fastest lap point. This change, which has previously influenced race strategies, was notably highlighted by Daniel Ricciardo’s last-race point that denied Lando Norris a Grand Slam weekend.
Additionally, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix has implemented a rule change following last season’s challenges with wet weather during qualifying, which prevented the session from proceeding as planned. SunSport is here to provide all the essential details regarding the upcoming rule changes for the 2025 season.
Key Rule Changes Ahead of the 2025 Season
1 – Removal of the Fastest Lap Point
The most talked-about change for 2025 is the abolishment of the fastest lap point. This rule, introduced in 2019, allowed drivers to earn an additional point for completing the fastest lap while finishing in the top ten. If a driver achieved the fastest lap but finished outside the top ten, they would still receive the title of fastest lap without any points. This significant change aims to encourage drivers to concentrate more on their overall race performance.
2 – Driver Cooling Systems
With races taking place in diverse and often extreme climates, such as Saudi Arabia, new regulations will allow the FIA to declare a “Heat Hazard” when temperatures are forecasted to reach 31°C or higher. This declaration will result in an increased weight limit for the cars, with an additional 2kg allowed during Practice, Qualifying, and Sprint Qualifying sessions, and an extra 5kg for both Sprint and Grand Prix races.
3 – Limits on Testing Old Cars
The regulations surrounding Testing of Previous Car (TPC) have evolved in recent years. Teams are now required to test components that have been utilized during race weekends at least once. While teams can still conduct up to 20 days of TPC testing, race drivers are limited to just four days and cannot exceed 1000km during these tests. This rule has proven beneficial for teams like McLaren, enabling drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to test last season’s car as they prepare for the new season. Additionally, this offers a significant advantage to younger drivers who can familiarize themselves with F1 regulations in a competitive context.
4 – More Running Time for Rookies
In Formula One, a rookie is defined as a driver who has not completed two Grands Prix. Since 2022, teams have been mandated to field a rookie driver in each car for a total of two sessions throughout the season. This year, the requirement has doubled, ensuring that each rookie must participate in at least two sessions per season, providing them with invaluable experience on the track.
5 – Stricter Restrictions on DRS Designs and Wing Deflections
The Drag Reduction System (DRS) is a vital aspect of race strategy, allowing teams to adjust their rear wings to reduce drag and increase speed. Under the new regulations, teams will face tighter restrictions on DRS designs, specifically regarding the deployment state, which will be limited to just two positions: open and closed. This aims to eliminate any ‘mini-DRS’ concepts that have emerged, ensuring a more standardized approach to aerodynamics.
6 – Changes to Qualifying Classifications
Last season’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix witnessed a significant alteration in the qualifying process due to unsafe conditions, leading to a shift in how classifications are determined. Under the new rules, if a qualifying session is deemed unsafe, the race classification will default to the Drivers’ Championship standings. If only part of the qualifying session occurs, the drivers will be ranked based on their fastest laps from earlier sessions, ensuring fair outcomes even in challenging conditions.
7 – A Mule Car Tyre Test
This rule will affect end-of-season testing in Abu Dhabi. Teams will be allowed one car to be driven by a driver who has participated in no more than two Grands Prix, while the second car is designated for testing new tyres for the 2026 season. These new tyres will feature different dimensions and specifications, requiring teams to undertake thorough testing during the end-of-season event.
Complete Race Schedule for the 2025 Season
Round One – Australia
Practice one – Fri, Mar 14, 1:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Mar 14, 5am GMT
Practice three – Sat, Mar 15, 1:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Mar 15, 5am GMT
Race – Sun, Mar 16, 4am GMT
- Winner – Lando Norris
Round Two – China – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Mar 21, 3:30am GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Mar 21, 7:30am GMT
Sprint – Sat, Mar 22, 3am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Mar 22, 7am GMT
Race – Sun, Mar 23, 7am GMT
- Winner – Oscar Piastri
Round Three – Japan
Practice one – Fri, Apr 4, 3:30am BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 4, 7am BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 5, 3:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 5, 7am BST
Race – Sun, Apr 6, 6am BST
Round Four – Bahrain
Practice one – Fri, Apr 11, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 11, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 12, 1:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 12, 5pm BST
Race – Sun, Apr 13, 4pm BST
Round Five – Saudi Arabia
Practice one – Fri, Apr 18, 2:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 18, 6pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 19, 2:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 19, 6pm BST
Race – Sun, Apr 20, 6pm BST
Round Six – Miami – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, May 2, 5:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, May 2, 9:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, May 3, 5pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 3, 9pm BST
Race – Sun, May 4, 9pm BST
Round Seven – Emilia-Romagna
Practice one – Fri, May 16, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 16, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 17, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 17, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, May 18, 2pm BST
Round Eight – Monaco
Practice one – Fri, May 23, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 23, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 24, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 24, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, May 25, 2pm BST
Round Nine – Spain
Practice one – Fri, May 30, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 30, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 31, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 31, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jun 1, 2pm BST
Round Ten – Canada
Practice one – Fri, Jun 13, 6:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jun 13, 10pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jun 14, 5:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jun 14, 9pm BST
Race – Sun, Jun 15, 7pm BST
Round Eleven – Austria
Practice one – Fri, Jun 27, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jun 27, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jun 28, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jun 28, 3pm BST
Race – Sat, Jun 29, 2pm BST
Round Twelve – Silverstone
Practice one – Fri, Jul 4, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jul 4, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jul 5, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jul 5, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jul 6, 3pm BST
Round Thirteen – Belgium – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Jul 25, 11:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Jul 25, 3:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, Jul 26, 11am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jul 26, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jul 27, 2pm BST
Round Fourteen – Hungary
Practice one – Fri, Aug 1, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Aug 1, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Aug 2, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Aug 2, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Aug 3, 2pm BST
Round Fifteen – Netherlands
Practice one – Fri, Aug 29, 11:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Aug 29, 3pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Aug 30, 10:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Aug 30, 2pm BST
Race – Sun, Aug 31, 2pm BST
Round Sixteen – Italy
Practice one – Fri, Sep 7, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Sep 7, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Sep 8, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Sep 8, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Sep 9, 2pm BST
Round Seventeen – Azerbaijan
Practice one – Fri, Sep 19, 9:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Sep 19, 1pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Sep 20, 9:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Sep 20, 1pm BST
Race – Sun, Sep 21, 12pm BST
Round Eighteen – Singapore
Practice one – Fri, Oct 3, 10:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Oct 3, 2pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Oct 4, 10:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 4, 2pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 5, 1pm BST
Round Nineteen – United States – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Oct 17, 6:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Oct 17, 10:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, Oct 18, 6pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 18, 10pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 19, 8pm BST
Round Twenty – Mexico
Practice one – Fri, Oct 24, 7:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Oct 24, 11pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Oct 25, 6:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 25, 10pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 26, 8pm GMT
Round Twenty-One – Brazil – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Nov 7, 2:30pm GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 7, 6:30pm GMT
Sprint – Sat, Nov 8, 2pm GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 8, 6pm GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 9, 5pm GMT
Round Twenty-Two – Las Vegas
Practice one – Fri, Nov 20, 12:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Nov 20, 4am GMT
Practice three – Sat, Nov 21, 12:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 21, 4am GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 22, 4am GMT
Round Twenty-Three – Qatar – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Nov 28, 1:30pm GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 28, 5:30pm GMT
Sprint – Sat, Nov 29, 2pm GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 29, 6pm GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 30, 4pm GMT
Round Twenty-Four – Abu Dhabi
Practice one – Fri, Dec 5, 9:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Dec 5, 1pm GMT
Practice three – Sat, Dec 6, 10:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Dec 6, 2pm GMT
Race – Sun, Dec 7, 1pm GMT