The changes that were announced covered the following:

a. Bi-directional telemetry, which enables teams to remotely control systems on the cars will be banned.

b. Radio communication between the team and driver will also be banned. This will see a greater importance on pit-board communication between the teams officials and their drivers.

c. Only two cars will be allowed on race weekends, which means teams cannot take spare cars to events.

d. Cars will also be placed in parc fermé after the second Saturday afternoon qualifying session and kept there until just before the race. For this period teams will not be able to work on the cars except under strict supervision. It is expected that the FIA would allow the cars to be released temporarily from impoundment so teams can run during the half-hour warm-up on Sunday morning.

e. Driver aids will be banned, including traction control, launch control, and fully automatic gearboxes. This is a complete reversal of the stand previously taken by the FIA in 2001 when the FIA agreed let the teams use unrestricted engine electronics after having claimed that they could not monitor the software used by such systems.

The FIA said that if teams incurred high costs by switching over in time for the 2003 season it would a allow them to carry on using them for all of or part of the season but that 2004 would see a complete ban.

f. The FIA has said that there will be a provision in the rules for teams to share components other than engines and gearboxes as part of cost-saving initiatives.

The FIA had already announced changes to several areas including qualifying and testing. Now that they have introduced these new rules the 2003 season should be vastly different to that of 2002. But the FIA is also looking well beyond 2003 with additional changes taking place in 2004.

In 2004 the FIA is also aiming to introduce cost-saving changes to the sporting regulations for 2004 that will see teams use standardised braking systems, standard rear wings, and other components. It has also been reported that the  FIA will invite tenders to supply a single braking system for all cars with the winner becoming the official supplier. Rear wings and rear wing endplates will also be the same for all cars, with Monza levels of downforce (low).

Also in 2004 the teams will also be restricted to one-engine-per-driver-per-weekend, with various penalties if there are mechanical failures. Also in 2005 the FIA is aiming at extending the life of engines even further with engines having to last for two races. In 2006 engines will have to last for six races, as well as the banning of “exotic material” use in the construction of mechanical components.

The FIA is also aiming that seeing the the major car manufacturers to assist in helping control costs, through measures such as having the car manufacturers supplying another team with their engines from 2004. Mercedes-Benz has already suggested it would willing to supply a second team alongside McLaren. For the FIA it really would not matter what the other manufacturers reactions were as they are aiming at introducing the new rules.

In a statement the FIA said: "The FIA cannot prevent the major car manufacturers spending very large sums on developing engines for the Formula One World Championship. It can, however, regulate the number of engines and other components each team can consume at races. In this way the cost of going racing, as opposed to development, can be minimised.

"The tighter the restrictions at the races, the lower the cost of going racing. The racing budget is then a smaller percentage of a manufacturer’s total expenditure, making it easier to support an additional team.

"The FIA will invite the major manufacturers currently supplying engines to teams competing in the Championship to ensure collectively that all teams have competitive engines at a readily affordable cost.

"In default of satisfactory and agreed arrangements, the FIA reserves the right to introduce a change to the Sporting Regulations to achieve this result."

How the teams react and comply to these rule changes will be an interesting exercise given that the new season starts in Melbourne in less than eight weeks.