What's new for Formula 1 in 2013?

From the changes in the cockpit to Pirelli's tyre promise, we run you through the key changes you need to know about.

Vanity panels
Boxer's noses, stepped noses, platypus noses, call them what you like, but their prominence on the vast majority of the 2012 cars caused more than a few complaints from those who like their F1 machines pretty as well as fast. The FIA were aware of the uproar and have acted to ensure the 2013 models aren't so aesthetically challenged. While the regulation that requires the front part of a car's nose to be no more than 55cm high remains in place, teams are now allowed, should they wish, to fit a laminate 'modesty panel' to smooth out the nose's appearance. Not all teams had taken the option by the end of testing, with the additional weight of the piece considered in some quarters an unhelpful addition. New car numbers
While there's no change at Number One for the third consecutive season, interesting car number changes for 2013 to note are Lewis Hamilton, who takes ten for his first season at Mercedes with new team-mate Nico Rosberg at nine, and Sergio Perez, who will drive with number six on his MP4-28. Fernando Alonso will drive car number three, while British rookie Max Chilton takes number twenty-three. New tyres
No, we don't mean that Pirelli have departed. They are still here - very much so - and their mantra to 'spice up the show' is still in place. To that end, the Italian suppliers have introduced softer compounds across their range of four dry-weather tyres (supersoft, soft, medium and hard) in 2013 and have also altered their construction. The aim is to guarantee at least two pitstops per race but also provide a wider operating window - something that proved a particular headache for teams and drivers last season. Also, the hard tyre will be marked with an orange stripe rather than silver. No more unlimited DRS
During its first two years of operation the F1 regulations for the use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) contained several anomalies. Although principally designed as an overtaking aid, drivers could nonetheless activate the moveable rear wing where and when they pleased during both practice and qualifying sessions for a pure lap-time advantage, whereas in races its use was limited to passing moves in one or two prescribed 'zones'. With safety in mind, the governing body has mandated that DRS can now only be used in the pre-defined 'zones' during every session of a race weekend. No more Mercedes-style Double DRS
By the end of last season an increasing number of teams were experimenting with variants of the so-called Double DRS system first pioneered by Mercedes on their W03. On their version, slots on the rear wing opened in tandem when the DRS was activated, channelling air through pipes towards the front of the car to stall the front wing for an additional speed boost. Such a system has now been banned for 2013 to nip any development war in the bud. However, what isn't outlawed is the type of 'passive' F-duct-like system developed, but not raced, by Lotus where air collected through ducts either side of the air box is channelled towards the rear wing for a speed boost even when DRS isn't in use. No more forcing the issue
The phrase 'force majeure' came to controversial prominence during the course of the 2012 season after Lewis Hamilton's McLaren in Spain, and Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull in Abu Dhabi, ground to a halt at the end of Q3 when their respective teams came aware that their car was about to run out of fuel. Under the rules as they stood both teams could argue a case of force majeure - i.e. the car stopping for reasons beyond their control - but that phrase has now been deleted from the Sporting Regulations for 2013. It means that should a car not be able to return to the pits under its own steam in a qualifying session then, in addition to having the mandatory one litre of fuel still on board required for a sample, it also must have the same amount of fuel that "would have been consumed to drive back to the pits", determined at the FIA, in order to escape the disqualification sanctions that Hamilton and Vettel suffered. JG