New F1 rules

A week after Honda chose to drop its Formula One team due to the cost of operating it in the current climate, the FIA has unveiled a raft of changes to cut costs and try and avoid any more casualties.

Tweaks to the current rules should lengthen the life of components and mean running costs fall for competitors. From 2009, each team will be limited to 20 engines a year - eight per car, with an additional four for testing. Engines will have to last three races, with no plans to lengthen this to four just yet. The cost for independent teams to buy in engines has been halved.

All teams power units face an 18,000rpm limit from next season, too, although rumoured plans for a standard engine throughout F1 hasn't rang true, possibly due to a number of public detractors and the threat of Ferrari pulling out of the sport. There'll be no in-season testing or wind tunnel use allowed.

From 2010 in-race refueling will be banned while standard radio and telemetry systems will be introduced while 2011 could see everyone using the same transmission. The plans are predicted to save teams 30 per cent on 2008's running costs, with independent teams to see bigger savings. Fingers crossed it will be enough to avoid any Honda-style casualties.