Formula One 2012 rule book updated to prevent "Blocking"
Formula 1 principal have agreed changes to the rules to prevent drivers 'blocking' a rival drivers who try to pass them.
The move was prompted by an incident involving Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton in Italy last season.
The new rule is article 20.3 of the F1 sporting regulations.
The rule states that, "More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted”.
"Any driver moving back towards the racing line, having earlier defended his position off‐line, should leave at least one car width between his own car and the edge of the track on the approach to the corner."
The previous rule that forbids drivers from forcing rivals off the track remains.
It is article 20.3 and it reads: "Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted."
The new sporting regulations also are designed to prevent drivers from "leaving the track without justifiable reason", an attempt to stop them taking shortcuts back to the pits during practice and qualifying to save time and fuel, as Vettel did in Korea.
And in article 40.12, they lay out circumstances under which lapped cars can un-lap themselves during a safety car period.
As a result of the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, which ran for four hours, following a two-hour mid-race stoppage for torrential rain, has led to a new rule restricting the maximum length of races, including stoppages, to four hours.