Stepped noses hidden, double DRS banned

The FIA has tweaked F1's technical regulations in a move that will allow teams to hide the stepped noses seen in F1 this season during the 2013 campaign.

The stepped nose was seen as a way in which teams were able to deal with a change in regulations relating to the front section of cars, although the design didn't go down well with fans who weren't keen on the ugly designs that followed.

Under the technical regulations for 2013, teams will now be able to fit a special panel to the front of the car to hide the stepped nose, although it won't affect the aerodynamics of the competing cars.

"With the exception of an optional, single piece, non-structural fairing of prescribed laminate (whose precise lay-up may be found in the Appendix to the regulations) which may not be more than 625mm above the reference plane at any point, no bodywork situated more than 1950mm forward of rear face of the cockpit entry template may be more than 550mm above the reference plane," article 3.7.9 of the 2013 technical regulations read.

The updated regulations have also confirmed that the double DRS pioneered by Mercedes this season will also no longer be allowed.

"The incidence of the rearmost and uppermost closed section described in Article 3.10.2 may be varied whilst the car is in motion provided...it cannot be used to change the geometry of any duct, either directly or indirectly, other than the change to the distance between adjacent sections permitted by Article 3.10.2," revisions to article 3.18 revealed.