Formula One has approved changes to its power unit penalty system with immediate effect and also tweaked super-licence rules for 2016 to give more drivers a chance to enter the sport from other series.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced the changes after a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Mexico City.
It said in a statement that it had approved rule adjustments previously proposed by the Strategy Group and approved by the sport’s F1 Commission.
The simplification of power unit penalties will mean the maximum sanction a driver will face from now on is to be sent to the back of the starting grid.
In Austria last month, both McLaren drivers were handed farcical 25-place penalties from where they qualified for unscheduled engine and gearbox replacements – with only 20 cars on the grid.
That meant Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso had to take additional penalties during the race.
The FIA meeting also agreed that the McLaren drivers will be allowed an extra fifth unit for the season because Honda are new manufacturers.
The engine allocation was reduced from five engines to four this year, the second season of the complicated V6 turbo hybrid units.
The points based super-licence qualifying system was modified to allow more series, such as the German Touring Cars (DTM), to be eligible.
The FIA said the changes were also aimed at increasing flexibility for drivers who have qualified for a Super Licence but do not have the opportunity to race in Formula One.
“These drivers will now keep this possibility for three years (for example, typical F1 test driver situation),” it said.
The champion of the new electric Formula E Championship, Brazilian Nelson Piquet junior this year, will also be given a Formula One Super Licence, even though the series remains outside the points system.
The super-licence rules were changed to ensure drivers were of a minimum age and experience after Max Verstappen was signed by Toro Rosso as a 16-year-old.
The Dutch teenager made a strong debut this season at the age of 17 as the sport’s youngest ever driver.
Baku on F1 calendar
Azerbaijan will make its Formula One debut next year with Germany returning after a year’s absence, according to a 21-race provisional calendar published by the sport’s governing body.
The race in Baku will be on July 17, sandwiched between Austria and Germany.
Malaysia moves to a September slot, with the race back-to-back with neighbouring Singapore’s floodlit grand prix, while Russia takes a May 1 date as the fourth race of the year a weekend after Bahrain.
The Malaysian Grand Prix made its debut in 1999 as the penultimate round of the calendar, and staged the season finale in 2000, but moved to an early slot in 2001.
This year’s Russian Grand Prix in Sochi is in October.
The 2015 calendar has 19 races, with Germany absent for financial reasons and Mexico making its return for the first time since 1992, and 21 would be a record number.
Teams have voiced resistance in the past to stretching the calendar beyond 20 races because of the burden imposed on personnel.
Hockenheim is due to host next year’s German Grand Prix, a home race for champions Mercedes, after turning down a chance to put it on this year following problems with the Nuerburgring circuit.
The end-of-July date for Germany is later than usual, with Hungary pushed into August. The April 3 date for Australia means the 2016 season will see the latest start to a championship since 1988.
Provisional calendar
April 3: Australia; April 10: China; April 24: Bahrain; May 1: Russia; May 15: Spain; May 29: Monaco; June 12: Canada; June 26: Britain; July 3: Austria; July 17: Azerbaijan; July 31: Germany; Aug. 7: Hungary; Aug. 28: Belgium; Sept. 4: Italy; Sept. 18: Singapore; Sept. 25: Malaysia; Oct. 9: Japan; Oct. 23: US; Oct. 30: Mexico; Nov. 13: Brazil; Nov. 27: Abu Dhabi.