Formula 1 2010 offers its biggest and perhaps most competitive grid in years with the field up to 24 cars scattered with new and returning drivers, teams and personnel. The biggest change to the rules however, involves refuelling during the race. There won't be any...

Refuelling Banned
Refuelling has been banned in F1 this year so the races will start with heavy fully laden cars fuelled to run a full race distance - car masses will vary by almost a quarter-tonne through the race making fuel consumption, not to mention a consistent race set-up absolutely essential in 2010.

Cars are still allowed to stop for fresh rubber so a lightning quick pit stop will mean all the difference now that drivers no longer have to wait for the fuel to fill. Not to mention that strategies will change - cars emerging from stops will be faster than they were before they pitted thanks to the virtues of a fresh set of tyres and no extra fuel load to slow the car...

How it all pans out remains to be seen, but the first to blink in a tyre change window will now be rewarded, not the last man in as it has been since 1994...

One other related change is now that refuelling is no longer allowed, is that F1 qualifying returns to a no-holds-barred banzai lap in a light as possible car - the fastest man will be on pole like it was always was, not the lightest car as we had in the strange system employed over the past few seasons....

Another technical change is Bridgestone's move to 10% narrower front tyres in an effort to provide drivers with a better balance in their cars.