Minimum weight to be increased by 15kg's

The FIA has addressed concerns that Formula 1’s rules unfairly disadvantage heavier drivers by raising cars’ minimum weight by 15kg from next season.

The minimum combined weight of car and driver, currently 605kg, will be increased to 620kg under new regulations approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday.

In previous years most car/driver combinations have weighed in well below the limit, allowing teams to use movable ballast to improve the car’s weight distribution and handling.

But the introduction of kinetic energy recovery systems, which weigh around 30kg, has left taller drivers with almost no ballast to play with this year.

For this reason BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica has raced with KERS only once so far this season while his lighter team-mate Nick Heidfeld has used it in all four races.

BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen said last month that his team would be pushing for a rise in the minimum weight limit to offset the effect of KERS and prevent F1 from becoming a “jockeys’ competition”.

The FIA also confirmed that refuelling during races will be outlawed from next season, in order to save the costs of transporting refuelling equipment and increase the incentive for engine builders to improve fuel economy.

The previously announced ban on tyre-warming blankets was also rubber-stamped.