The FIA has confirmed that power unit manufacturers must join Formula 1 teams in observing a three-week shutdown during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Since Formula 1 introduced a two-week summer shutdown for each team factory their respective power unit companies have not been obliged to follow the same regulations.
This has allowed development of power unit components to continue throughout the break.
The FIA and Formula 1 has already acted by moving the summer shutdown to March/April and extending it by a week.
Several team factories have faced mandatory closure by governments due to the restrictions imposed on account of the pandemic.
On Tuesday it was confirmed through the introduction of Article 21.10 in the Sporting Regulations that “all power unit manufacturers must observe a shutdown period of 21 consecutive days during months of March and/or April.”
Formula 1’s four power unit manufacturers are Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda.
The FIA has accepted that it will make an “exception for factories based in countries where law and/or unions impose different closing periods” and that “in this case these factories may replace some days out of the shutdown period by the locally imposed periods.”
Any power unit manufacturers affected by local laws or unions must “make a declaration to the FIA that their staff will not be permitted to transfer to work in the country that isn’t shutdown during these periods.
No test facility, or sub-assembly of power units – including contractors – may be operational during the shutdown.
Most Formula 1 teams are currently in shutdown mode but this initial three-week period could be extended “in the event that public health concerns of government restrictions continue.”
The FIA said all competitors will be consulted on whether to extend the shutdown in the interest of fairness.
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