New rules to clamp down on F1 cheats: Burning rubber

Formula One's dirty tricksters face a crackdown in this season's clash of the Grand Prix titans.

And the main hit will be on drivers who weave about in an unfair and risky bid to avoid being overtaken. Now they will be allowed only one change of direction to keep a fast-closing rival in their slipstream. And shortcuts to save time or fuel will be banished.

It's a plan to wipe out dodgy driving at 200mph that could end up in death or injury to both drivers and trackside fans. And it is welcomed by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who says: "We want fair and square racing and no dirty, dangerous or underhand moves to wreck another guy's chances."

The prime mover is Grand Prix race director Charlie Whiting, who will instruct trackside stewards like British hero and ex-champion Nigel Mansell to pinpoint the bad boys for punishment.

That could mean a costly drive-through in the race, points deductions, a disqualification and a ban.

I have learned that Whiting's warning was issued ahead of the Australian Grand Prix opener in Melbourne. And he says: "The one-move order? It was an unwritten rule but we have now put it into the regulations.

"A driver may now make only one move to defend his position, but when he moves back on to the racing line to take a corner, it can be construed as a second move and that is not allowed.

"We don't want to get into silly arguments about centimetres, so we decided the defending driver must leave at least one car width on the racing line or he will be judged to have made a second move."