Team mechanics in 2011 will be barred from working all night on formula one cars before practice days.

The new rule emerged as, late on Monday, the FIA published the full sporting and technical regulations for next season.

The mechanics curfew will apply to team personnel “associated in any way with the operation of the cars” between midnight to 6am when practice is due to start at 10am, or 1am to 7am if practice is scheduled for 11am.

“However, each team will be permitted four individual exceptions to the above during a championship season,” the FIA said.

Another new rule for 2011 relates to driving standards, probably inspired by Michael Schumacher’s controversial move on Rubens Barrichello in Hungary this year.

“Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as more than one change of direction to defend a position, deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted,” said the FIA.

Stewards also have new powers to penalise drivers, including by imposing a one-race ban.

The one-gearbox-per-four-races rule has been toughened to five races in 2011, with one penalty-free gearbox change per driver allowed.

Meanwhile, the race director has been given the power to close the pit entry during races “for safety reasons”.

F1′s governing body on Friday insisted it has “no concerns” about the ear studs worn by Lewis Hamilton during free practice in Turkey.

The 2008 world champion had his ears pierced last week, while in Los Angeles to see his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger perform on a dance television show.

But when he pulled his balaclava and helmet over the studs on Friday morning, some sections of the media recalled article 2.2.1 appendix L of the sporting regulations.

The section prohibits drivers from wearing jewellery for safety reasons.

“The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited,” reads the rule.

(GMM)

Sauber removed the F-duct from its C29 for Monaco for safety reasons, the Swiss team’s boss has revealed.

Ferrari also decided not to run the downforce-spoiling concept in the Principality, but the Italian team argued that the device simply was not effective on the twisty streets.

But Peter Sauber said his team’s decision was for a different reason.

“I wanted my drivers to have both their hands on the steering wheel through the tunnel,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“Ever since Karl Wendlinger had his accident there in 1994, I have respect for this place,” added Sauber.

Like Ferrari, Sauber’s system involves blocking an air inlet with the drivers’ hand.

The McLaren system is activated by the knee, but Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the time advantage was just a few hundredths per lap in Monaco.

Ferrari’s system will be back on the F10 car in Turkey in two weeks.

“Our system did not work as desired in Barcelona,” confirmed team boss Stefano Domenicali.  “We are still fine-tuning it.”

The red cars were very fast in a straight line in Spain, but the system was also shedding downforce in the corners “when the system was not being activated”, the Italian admitted.

Red Bull will also begin experimenting with the concept in Turkey.

“We are doing the research and for sure at the next couple of races we will have a look at it, but we will only introduce it when it earns a place on the car,” Christian Horner told F1′s official website.

(GMM)

Apr.29 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has green-lighted Silverstone’s new ‘Arena’ section for use at the 2010 British grand prix in July.

The FIA’s race director, official starter and safety and technical delegate toured the 760 metre section – featuring six new corners – earlier this week.

The layout was then launched officially for dignitaries and the media on Thursday.

“Charlie Whiting was here yesterday,” confirmed the track’s managing director Richard Phillips, “and we walked the circuit and we’ve got our Grade A licence for the next three years.”

With MotoGP being held at Silverstone this year, it was decided that a new layout was necessary for safety reasons — particularly the proximity of the famous bridge at the now-bypassed Bridge corner.

The renovation has cost 5m pounds sterling, with riders and drivers to turn right instead of left at the old Abbey chicane entry before embarking on a section incorporating the old National straight, renamed Wellington.

The new layout rejoins the old circuit with a faster entry to the ‘Brooklands’ corner near the end of the lap.