FORMULA ONE is getting ready to celebrate 75 years of the sport – with SEVEN new rule changes for fans ahead of the new season.Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari will also see a handful of new rule changes, as he prepares to win an eighth world title.Formula One has introduced new rules for the new seasonCredit: gettyRookie drivers such as Kimi Antonelli will benefit from the rule changesCredit: gettyRookie drivers will be happy with the new rules, with the rules seeing them get more time in the car and on the track.The biggest rule change ahead of the new season will see drivers UNABLE to score an extra point if they are the fastest driver on the grid.The rule had before been used as a tactic, with Daniel Ricciardo scoring the point during his final race to deny Lando Norris a Grand Slam weekend.The Sao Paulo 2024 Grand Prix has also enforced a rule change, with the qualifying session unable to even get going during Saturday’s wet weather conditions last season.Read more F1 newsSunSport has everything you need to know about the rule changes ahead of the 2025 season.What rules have changed ahead of 2025?1 – Removal of the fastest lap pointThe biggest rule change for 2025 is the elimination of the fastest lap points. The rule had been implemented in 2019, and it meant that a driver could score an extra point if they finished a lap in the quickest time, if they were inside the top ten of the final classification.Most read in MotorsportIf a driver finished a lap the fastest outside the top ten, then they would still earn the fastest lap title, but would not earn any points. 2 – Driver cooling systemsThe F1 calendar takes drivers all around the world, sometimes to extremely hot climates such as Saudi Arabia.The FIA can now declare a “Heat Hazard” if a weather forecast predicts temperatures to rise to 31C or above, which will lead to an increase in the weight limit of cars.Cars will be allowed an extra 2kg of weight for Practice, Qualifying and Sprint Qualifying sessions, and an extra 5kg for a Sprint or a Grand Prix.3 – Limits on testing old carsThe rules on Testing of Previous Car (TPC) regulations already changed a year ago, as new rules stated teams must test parts that had run during a race weekend at least once.Teams can remain to carry out up to 20 days of TPC testing, but their race drivers are only allowed to take part in four days, during which they cannot exceed 1000km driven. McLaren has showcased the benefit of TPC testing, allowing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to go back on track in their car from last season ahead of the new season testing.It also offers a huge advantage for younger drivers, who can go out into F1 regulation cars and get prepared to head out into practice sessions. 4 – More running time for rookiesIn F1, a rookie is described as someone who had not completed two F1 Grands Prix.It has been a rule since 2022 that each team must run a rookie in each of their cars – twice in total – over the course of a season.Teams usually chose to fill this time during FP1.However, in 2025 the rule will double, meaning at least twice per season in each car, a rookie must run for at least one session.5 – Stricter restrictions on DRS designs and wing deflectionsThe Drag Reduction System (DRS) essentially allows teams to open their rear wing and reduce downforce, allowing the car to travel at a faster speed.The DRS system is activated when a car is within a second to the car in front of it, and is in one of the designated “DRS zones” on a track.Teams have been able to design a “mini-DRS” concept, in which the rear wing tilts backwards when travelling at fast speeds.The new restrictions look to eliminate this by defining the state of deployment and restriction to only two position: open and closed.6 – Changes to qualifying classificationsThe Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 2024 saw qualifying pushed back so far that it essentially happened as a prelude to the race on the Sunday, rather than happening the day prior. The first change states that if the stewards deem the qualifying session unsafe to take place, the race classification order will be based on the Drivers’ Championship classification.Moreover, if one session of a qualifying takes place (Q1), but Q2 and Q3 takes places will multiple drivers not setting a time, they will be ranked based on who set the fastest lap in the prior session.For example, if Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton both start a flying lap in Q3, but there is a red flag that ends the session, the two will be ranked based on which car was faster in Q2.7 – A mule car tyre testThis will change the end-of-season testing in Abu Dhabi. While one car can be allowed to be driven as usual by a driver who has started no more than two Grands Prix, the second car must be used to test tyres for 2026.The tyres will be a different dimension and specification in 2026, and teams will need to test them during their end-of-season testing. Full race scheduleRound One – AustraliaPractice one – Fri, Mar 14, 1:30am GMTPractice two – Fri, Mar 14, 5am GMTPractice three – Sat, Mar 15, 1:30am GMTQualifying – Sat, Mar 15, 5am GMTRace – Sun, Mar 16, 4am GMTWinner – Lando NorrisRound Two – China – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, Mar 21, 3:30am GMTSprint Qualifying – Fri, Mar 21, 7:30am GMTSprint – Sat, Mar 22, 3am GMTQualifying – Sat, Mar 22, 7am GMTRace – Sun, Mar 23, 7am GMTWinner – Oscar PiastriRound Three – JapanPractice one – Fri, Apr 4, 3:30am BSTPractice two – Fri, Apr 4, 7am BSTPractice three – Sat, Apr 5, 3:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Apr 5, 7am BSTRace – Sun, Apr 6, 6am BSTRound Four – Bahrain Practice one – Fri, Apr 11, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Apr 11, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Apr 12, 1:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Apr 12, 5pm BSTRace – Sun, Apr 13, 4pm BSTRound Five – Saudi ArabiaPractice one – Fri, Apr 18, 2:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Apr 18, 6pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Apr 19, 2:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Apr 19, 6pm BSTRace – Sun, Apr 20, 6pm BSTRound Six – Miami – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, May 2, 5:30pm BSTSprint Qualifying- Fri, May 2 , 9:30pm BSTSprint – Sat, May 3, 5pm BSTQualifying – Sat, May 3, 9pm BSTRace – Sun, May 4, 9pm BSTRound Seven – Emilia-RomagnaPractice one – Fri, May 16, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, May 16, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, May 17, 11:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, May 17, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, May 18, 2pm BSTRound Eight – MonacoPractice one – Fri, May 23, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, May 23, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, May 24, 11:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, May 24, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, May 25, 2pm BSTRound Nine – SpainPractice one – Fri, May 30, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, May 30, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, May 31, 11:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, May 31, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, Jun 1, 2pm BSTRound Ten – CanadaPractice one – Fri, Jun 13, 6:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Jun 13, 10pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Jun 14, 5:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Jun 14, 9pm BSTRace – Sun, Jun 15, 7pm BSTRound 11 – Austria Practice one – Fri, Jun 27, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Jun 27, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Jun 28, 11:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Jun 28, 3pm BSTRace – Sat, Jun 29, 2pm BSTRound 12 – SilverstonePractice one – Fri, Jul 4, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Jul 4, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Jul 5, 11:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Jul 5, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, Jul 6, 3pm BSTRound 13 – Belgium – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, Jul 25, 11:30pm BSTSprint Qualifying – Fri, Jul 25, 3:30pm BSTSprint – Sat, Jul 26 , 11am BSTQualifying – Sat, Jul 26, 3pm BST Race – Sun, Jul 27, 2pm BSTRound 14 – HungaryPractice one – Fri, Aug 1, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Aug 1, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Aug 2, 11:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Aug 2, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, Aug 3, 2pm BSTRound 15 – NetherlandsPractice one – Fri, Aug 29, 11:30am BSTPractice two – Fri, Aug 29, 3pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Aug 30, 10:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Aug 30, 2pm BSTRace – Sun, Aug 31, 2pm BSTRound 16 – ItalyPractice one – Fri, Sep 7, 12:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Sep 7, 4pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Sep 8, 11:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Sep 8, 3pm BSTRace – Sun, Sep 9, 2pm BSTRound 17 – AzerbaijanPractice one – Fri, Sep 19, 9:30am BSTPractice two – Fri, Sep 19, 1pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Sep 20, 9:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Sep 20, 1pm BSTRace – Sun, Sep 21, 12pm BSTRound 18 – Singapore Practice one – Fri, Oct 3, 10:30am BSTPractice two – Fri, Oct 3, 2pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Oct 4, 10:30am BSTQualifying – Sat, Oct 4, 2pm BSTRace – Sun, Oct 5, 1pm BSTRound 19 – United States – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, Oct 17, 6:30pm BSTSprint Qualifying – Fri, Oct 17, 10:30pm BSTSprint – Sat, Oct 18, 6pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Oct 18, 10pm BSTRace – Sun, Oct 19, 8pm BSTRound 20 – MexicoPractice one – Fri, Oct 24, 7:30pm BSTPractice two – Fri, Oct 24, 11pm BSTPractice three – Sat, Oct 25, 6:30pm BSTQualifying – Sat, Oct 25, 10pm BSTRace – Sun, Oct 26, 8pm GMTRound 21 – Brazil – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, Nov 7, 2:30pm GMTSprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 7, 6:30pm GMTSprint – Sat, Nov 8, 2pm GMTQualifying – Sat, Nov 8, 6pm GMTRace – Sun, Nov 9, 5pm GMTRound 22 – Las Vegas Practice one – Fri, Nov 20, 12:30am GMTPractice two – Fri, Nov 20, 4am GMTPractice three – Sat, Nov 21, 12:30am GMTQualifying – Sat, Nov 21, 4am GMTRace – Sun, Nov 22, 4am GMTREAD MORE SUN STORIESRound 23 – Qatar – Sprint weekendPractice one – Fri, Nov 28, 1:30pm GMTSprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 28, 5:30pm GMTSprint – Sat, Nov 29, 2pm GMTQualifying – Sat, Nov 29, 6pm GMTRace – Sun, Nov 30, 4pm GMTRound 24 – Abu Dhabi Practice one – Fri, Dec 5, 9:30am GMTPractice two – Fri, Dec 5, 1pm GMTPractice three – Sat, Dec 6, 10:30am GMTQualifying – Sat, Dec 6, 2pm GMTRace – Sun, Dec 7, 1pm GMT More
