F1 to get more flexible time penalties
Formula One is to introduce five-second penalties for certain offences from the coming season, the ruling body FIA announced.
Pending approval from the F1 Commission and the teams, the F1 Strategy Group decided at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday that these penalties can be taken before work is carried out on a car during a pit stop.
The five-second penalty gives race stewards more flexibility in imposing sanctions. Up to now, they could only impose drive-through penalties, which cost a racer around 20 seconds.
The Strategy Group also decided to give teams six so-called curfew "jokers" in 2014 instead of the previous two.
F1 has a six-hour work curfew which lasts until three hours before the day's first session, and eight hours on a Thursday.
The move was made to seas any teething problems in connection with major rule changes with new engines and cars.
Among the changes is the use of a 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged motor instead of the previous 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8.
The meeting, which included F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, FIA president Jean Todt and team representatives, also agreed to present a cost-cutting plan to the World Motor Sport Council in June, for introduction in 2015.
