Formula One's rules over defending a position on track are set to be tightened up from the start of the Korean Grand Prix tomorrow, with the FIA planning to officially define the 'one move' defence in the 2012 regulations.
Currently, the rules over defending a position on track are poorly-defined, with drivers outlawed from "illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre".The rules also say that: "manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such more than one change of direction to defend a position" are illegal.
This has been loosely defined as a driver only being able to defend a position once into a corner, to prevent dangerous weaving from one side of the track to the other.
However, the precise nature of what a 'move' constitutes is not defined, and has led to some controversy in 2011.
Michael Schumacher was not penalised despite appearing to make two moves in defending from Lewis Hamilton at Monza, with his second move adjudged to be him returning to the racing line, and therefore legal.
And with no firm definition of what constitutes a 'move' in the rules, the FIA are looking to change this situation in time for the start of 2012.
According to the Autosport website, F1's Sporting Working Group have approved plans to add the 'one move' definition to the 2012 rules.
The plan will now see the draft rule ratified by the World Motor Sport Council before it is added to the 2012 rulebook.
According to the Autosport report, the new rule will define that "drivers can make one move to defend their position, and must then leave at least one full car's width of asphalt on the outside (which does not include the kerb) if they return to their racing line".
And this new rule, while not yet official, is set to be introduced to the stewards from tomorrow's Korean Grand Prix.
The FIA has also reportedly granted itself the ability to add reprimands to drivers after a race even if they were hit with a penalty in the race itself.
Earlier this season, the reprimand system was clarified with a 'three strikes' rule, whereby any driver receiving three reprimands would pick up a ten-place grid penalty as punishment.
The new rules mean that drivers will now potentially pick up reprimands for in-race incidents, even if the stewards hand them a penalty during the race.
Drivers could therefore theoretically be 'punished' twice for a contentious move, once by the stewards themselves and then again by the FIA after the race.
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