These are the regulations for F1 teams during extended FP2

F1 News

28 October 2022 at 11:23
Last update 28 October 2022 at 15:05
  • GPblog.com

At the Mexican Grand Prix we''ll again see an extended second free practice session to test the 2023 Pirelli tyres. Since rookies will also be back in action during FP1, the practice time has been divided a little differently.

Rookies in FP1 and an extended FP2

In Japan, the first extended FP2 was to test the new tyres, but because of the rain, no data could be collected on those new tyres. At the US GP, these tests were also scheduled and could actually go ahead. The fact that in that second free practice only three drivers used a normal tyre caused a bit of confusion for the spectator. Therefore, we briefly list the FIA's regulations for this weekend.

Adjustments to free practice regulations

In a regular situation, the second free practice session lasting an hour and a half should be entirely dedicated to the Pirelli test. This means that teams and drivers are only allowed to drive on the new Pirelli tyre, the car's specification cannot be changed, DRS cannot be used and the set-up cannot be altered. The fact that five rookies will also drive free practice again this weekend means that many drivers who have to give up their car in FP1 will have very little time to prepare for the race weekend as a result. For these five drivers, a different script applies.

Nyck de Vries, Liam Lawson, Jack Doohan, Logan Sargeant and Pietro Fittipaldi will take the wheel from George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, Nicholas Latifi and Kevin Magnussen. The last five drivers mentioned thus have more freedom in FP2 than the other fifteen. They are allowed to use half of the time (45 minutes) for themselves, but must compulsorily complete the Pirelli schedule after that time. If the team estimates that the Pirelli schedule will take longer than 45 minutes, the drivers will still be forced to use less time for themselves. From then on, the rules for set-up and specification will be the same as for the other drivers.