LONDON -To the average sporting fan, the two biggest changes to Formula One's rules this year will be the absence of the enforced 'tactical' refuelling pit stops and a new points scoring system.

There will still be pit stops, but they are going to be for tires only - and this will see a return to the 'old days' of lightning-fast stops with the crews striving to change all four wheels in less than four seconds.

This is because refuelling during the races is now banned and that has been accompanied by the introduction of fuel tanks that will hold about 175 kilos of fuel - enough to go a full race distance.