The change, made part of a record-breaking season of 23 races, is aimed at reducing the number of grid penalties applied for using additional PU elements late in the campaign.

With immediate effect, each driver can use four instead of three combustion engines, turbochargers, MGU-H and MGU-K before penalty kicks this season.

The distribution of energy storage and control electronics, which already beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on penalty points in the second race of the year in Saudi Arabia, remains at two units per season.

The change is one of several housekeeping measures agreed by the F1 committee and approved by the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday.

In the updated sports regulations, the time allotted for the start procedure has been extended from 40 minutes to 50 minutes to allow more time for ceremonies etc. before the race.

“In some races, this extra time will be used to present the drivers to the fans,” the FIA ​​said.

The new definition of repairing a car at a penalty stop, the penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia, raised eyebrows, was subsequently repealed and has now been formally adopted in the statute.

Teams in Australia have been told jacks touching cars would constitute work.

In an interesting development, the FIA ​​has agreed to study possible cost cap exclusions associated with updating F1 teams’ factory infrastructure, but only in the context of improving sustainability.

Logan Sargent, Williams Racing FW45

Photography: Williams

Williams, in particular, has been clamoring for some breathing room to allow it to update its Grove facility after years of falling behind rivals on a limited budget.

It remains to be seen what changes the new move will allow teams to make without affecting the ceiling.

A statement from the FIA ​​said: “A dedicated working group within the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) has developed a proposal to introduce cost exclusions for certain sustainability initiatives from 2023, with particular attention to environmental issues.

“Following the support of FAC members and the approval of the committee, the costs of certain sustainability initiatives will now be excluded from the cost cap.

“These exclusions include, among other things, costs associated with installing sustainable infrastructure, auditing and monitoring competitors’ carbon footprints, and donating to charities engaged in projects promoting environmental sustainability and carbon offsetting schemes. The FAC will continue to refine this Regulation.”