Formula One teams have rejected mandatory pitstops in each grand prix for the 2014 season.
A proposal was put forward to the teams that each driver would have to make two pitstops but the idea was dismissed at a meeting of the sport's rules strategy group on Monday. Another proposal to raise the minimum weight limit to prevent taller drivers being unfairly penalised was also turned down - bad news for Force India's Nico Hulkenberg.
It's hoped double points will keep interest in the championship alive for longer
However, a number of proposals at the FIA meeting were ticked off, the most significant being the decision to award double points at the final race of the season. The sport's governing body said the decision was made "in order to maximise focus on the Championship until the end of the campaign." This year, Sebastian Vettel won the drivers' championship with three races to spare while in 2011 he won with five races remaining, so these changes would have made little difference.
However, the 2012 drivers title would have halted Vettel in his tracks, ceding the title to Fernando Alonso while most galling for British fans would have been the 2008 Championship. Under the new system, Felipe Massa would have pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title after the gripping Brazilian Grand Prix.
Other changes agreed at the meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris included a cost cap for teams. No figure has been agreed but the limit will be introduced in 2015. A working group will be established from the FIA, representatives of the commercial rights holder and team representatives with the aim of having regulations approved by the end of June next year.
After the ongoing furore surrounding tyres, there will be an extra Pirelli test in Bahrain from 17 to 19 December, 2013 "on safety grounds". Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro Rosso will all take part.
In a move designed to maximise merchandising and other commercial opportunities, drivers will keep their numbers throughout their F1 career instead of changing each year based on where they finished the previous season.
"Number 1 will be reserved for the current World Champion, should he choose to use it," the FIA said.