F1's controversial safety car rules have been scrapped ahead of the 2009 season, the FIA's Charlie Whiting confirmed in a media briefing on Tuesday.

We reported last October that it was agreed to revert to the system of 2006, whereby the pitlane will stay open upon deployment of the safety car, rather than unfairly penalise drivers who are forced to pit.

"The rule introduced in 2007 was a bad one, and we've gone back to the 2006 regulations," the governing body's technical and safety delegate said.

We had also reported in October that, to accompany the revised system, drivers will need to adhere to a minimum lap time as they drive slowly after deployment of the safety car, as was trialled several times in free practice last year.


The new rules are an improvement but not perfect, BMW Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder said last year.

"If at the time of (race) neutralisation you were just past the pits, it will be a problem because you will have do a full lap."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

 

Instead of freezing engine development last year, the FIA should have promised to just freeze all the rules for 10 years instead. This rule change isn't too bad, but BMW definitely makes a good point about drivers being caught out right past the pits, you're screwed.

 

well you can bet that the FIA will change some rules every year