Despite the success achieved following rule changes in the 2003 F1 season, the sport has gone for an overhaul once again.
Rediff.com provides an at-a-glance guide to the new rules for the 2004 season:
Qualifying
After reintroducing Friday qualifying last season -- it was done away with in 2002 -- qualifying has been dumped again this year. Instead, there will be two back-to-back sessions on Saturday afternoon. The first session will be reversed to set the running order in the second, which will determine all-important grid positions.
The difference in 2004 is that the second session will start just two minutes after the first ends.
Just as in 2003, refuelling is allowed after the first session, but not after the second. Which means teams have to win their grid slots while running their cars as they intend to start the race.
Changes to qualifying will mean a whole new set of tactics for teams.
Third drivers
In 2003, several teams chose to run in a new test session on Friday mornings in return for limiting their testing between races.
Renault in particular made this work to their advantage by running a third car with an experienced driver, Allan McNish, in it to help gain extra data.
But F1 bosses decided to change all that. For starters, the extra session has been eliminated.
But all, except 2003's top four teams, will be able to run a third car for another driver throughout Friday's two practice sessions as long as he has not competed in more than six Grands Prix in the previous two seasons.
Aerodynamics
There is a new restriction on technology for the new season, aimed at slowing cars through corners.
Rear wings, which provide much of the aerodynamic downforce at the back of the car, will be subject to new limits in 2004.
Previously, they could contain as many horizontal elements as required, but now there must be a maximum of three top rear wing elements and only one at the bottom.
Quick check:
Traction control: allowed
Automatic gearbox: banned
Launch control: banned
Extreme weather tyres: to be made available
Pit-to-car telemetry: banned
Pit-to-car radio: allowed
Engine: only 1 engine per driver per race available; use of spare engine will demote the driver 10 places down the grid.
