Formula 1 held its latest meeting of the F1 Commission today, which feat🌱ured posit🔯ive discussions on a number of key issues.

An engine freeze, final 2021 F1 calendar and format changes to the race weekend were among the most signifi𓃲cant matters on the agenda during the virtual meeting which took place on Thursday.

Here is a rundown of all the subjects that were discussed and what outcome was agreed by F1’s stakeholders for eachꦺ of them…

Engine freeze approved, new power unit rules objectives laid out

All 10 teams and the four power unit manufacturers unanimously voted to approve♔ the introduction of a freeze to engine development from 2022 in what F1 described as a “significant development for the sport that reflects the unity and collaborative spirit between the F⛎IA, Formu🌱la 1 and the teams”.

A vote on the matter followed heavy lobbying from Red Bull, which was seeking t♏o take over Honda’s engine project following the Japanese manufacturer’s exit from the spꦯort at the end of the year.

With the freeze from next season approved, Red Bul൩l can now go ahead and finalise a contꦓinuation deal with Honda.

As a result, new power unit regula෴tions are to be brought forward by a year to 2025, with F1 establishing a “high-level working group” including current and potential power unit manufacturers and fuel sup♎pliers to define the next generation of F1 engines.

The key goals ou♏tlined by the FIA are to create a “powerful and emotive” engine design, reduce costs and achieve carbon neutrality with an environmentally sustainable approach that has social and automotive relevance using fully sustainable fuels to help attract potential new power unit manufacturers.

The FIA also confirmed that Fꩵ1🐬 and a number of teams have achieved the highest level of FIA Environmental Accreditation. A guide outlining how the rest of the teams can achieve this was set out in the meeting and the goal is set to be included in the F1 Sporting Regulations.

Changes to the race weekend format

F1’s proposal to revamp the weekend format by trialing a new shorter 100km 𒊎‘sprint’ race on Saturdays of grand prix at races in Canada, Italy and Brazil this year received a positive response from the teams.

It comes as part of F1’s bid to engage fans in new ways and create added excitement to the racing. The idea would see Friday’s second practice scrapped at these events an𒐪d replaced by qualifying for the shorter Saturday ra♋ce, which would then determine the grid for Sunday.

F1 said there was “broad support from all parties” for a new qualifying format at select rounds, and a working group has now been tasked with creating a final plan with the aim of reaching a decision before the start of the upcomin❀g 2021 season.

Intention for Portuguese GP to be confirmed as third round

On Thursday, F1 officially communicated to the teams𓄧 its intention to fill the current ‘TBC’ space on the latest version of the 2021 F1 calendar with the Portuguese Grand 🌳Prix.

Pending final agreement subject to cont✃ract with the promoter, Portimao will return to the calendar to host the third round of the season on 2 May.

F1 noted that changing circumstances “may require flexibility” but reaffirmed it is working at all levels with governments and local organisations to ꦏensure that the calendar can go ahead as plan🅘ned under continued robust COVID-19 protocols.

Further cost control measures

Talks are ongoing𒆙 over the future introduction of a salary cost cap for drivers ▨and the highest-paid earners within teams.

Various topics were tabl🐲ed about how this can be achieved over the coming years and a working group - including the drivers themselves - will be created to discuss the matter of driver and senior team management contracts further.

Other regulation changes

The FIA has proposed, fol✨lowing a request by Pirelli, to permit a more “equitable distributionꦰ” of tyre testing throughout 2021, which will take into consideration the challenges of COVID-19 and the impending move to 18-inch tyres in 2022.

After unanimous agreement, the number of teꦕst days allocated will be increas🌊ed from 25 to 30.