Refuelling ban expected to shake things up (Feature)

By George Burns Mar 3, 2010, 4:08 GMT

Berlin - Even the final lineup for the 2010 season is still not certain with less than two weeks to go until the start of the 2010 Formula One season, adding further unknowns to what is already expected to be an unpredictable championship.

A total of 13 teams are scheduled to feature on the starting grid at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 14 the new USF1 looks certain to seek a deferral until 2011 and Campos has failed to front for any of the pre-season tests.

The higher number of drivers means only a slight change to the knockout qualifying session, with eight drivers eliminated in Q1 and Q2 as opposed to five previously.

However, the ban on refuelling is a major change in 2010, and means that cars will now qualify on low fuel in all three phases of the session.

Also, any driver who makes it to Q3 must start the race on the same tyres he used to set his grid time.

Pit stops will only take place for tyre changes as drivers still have to use both dry-weather tyre compounds during a race. Front-tyre width has been reduced from 270mm to 245mm to give a better grip balance while a slightly harder tyre compound will be used by Bridgestone to compensate for the heavier fuel loads being carried at the start of the race.

The points system has also undergone a major overhaul with the race winner now accumulating 25 points, second place 18 and 15 for third. The next seven finishers will score 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point respectively.

Last season, the top eight drivers scoring 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point respectively.

Perhaps as a result of the problems suffered by Fernando Alonso when a wheel came of his Renault at the European GP last season, teams are no longer allowed to use wheel rim covers.

A small change to testing rules has also been made, allowing one day of track testing to a driver who has not participated in an F1 race in the two previous calendar years if he is called up as a substitute driver.

This move is to prevent a repeat of the situation in 2009 where Jaime Alguersuari made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso having only previously driven an F1 car in straight-line testing, which, incidentally, has now been dropped from eight to six days per season.