F1: 5 new changes and additions for the 2018 Season

The 2017 F1 season came to an end in Abu Dhabi with Mercedes winning the Constructors Championship and Lewis Hamilton winning his fourth World Championship.

While the 2017 season has ended, it is still no time to rest for the teams and fans alike with the FIA announcing some new changes to the world's premier racing event for 2018.

Here are some changes in F1 for the 2018 season:

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#1 New Tyre Compounds

Pirelli, the official supplier of tyres in F1, have decided to add two new compounds to the seven compounds it provided in 2017. The two new compounds introduced are HyperSoft and SuperHard, which will be pink and orange in colour respectively.

According to F1's tyre makers, all the compounds will go one step 'softer' in 2018, making them the fastest tyres in Formula1 history. HyperSoft, the softest of all compounds, will have the most grip but the least durability, while SuperHard will be the hardest of all compounds and will have the least grip but most durability among tyres provided in 2018.

Pirelli was one of the four tyre manufacturers present at the inception of F1 in 1950 before becoming F1's official and sole supplier of tyres in 2011 after an absence of nearly two decades.

#2 Introduction of Halo

Ferrari with the Halo

After some brief showings during free practice sessions, Halo -- a cockpit protection device, has finally become a part of F1's new driver safety additions to be made during the 2018 season.

Halo is a wishbone-shaped frame which is mounted above and around the drivers head and anchored to the monocoque forward of the cockpit.

It is a safety measure undertaken by the FIA after being a spectator to some major accidents such as that of Jules Bianchi, who unfortunately succumbed to his injuries after his accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

FIA has developed and tested a lot of safety devices over the past few years and after feedback from the drivers and teams alike settled on Halo for the 2018 season.

#3 New Logo

F1's New Logo

After being the face of F1 for the last 23 years, the 'flying F1' logo has been replaced by a new logo unveiled during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This is a major change in F1 because the 'flying F1' logo has been associated with the sport for more than two decades and is recognized by people all around the world.

This is the third logo change in F1 since the beginning of the sport in 1950 and it has not gone down well as expected by the Liberty Group, attracting a lot of heat from fans and drivers alike with current world champion Lewis Hamilton and former world champion Sebastian Vettel both voicing their disapproval over the change in logo.

#4 Return of the French Grand Prix

Massa after winning the French Grand Prix in 2008

France will officially make its return to F1 in 2018 after a 10-year gap. The last F1 race in France was held at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in 2008 but in 2018, it will be held at the Circuit Paul Richard, which was last used for an F1 race in 1990.

The race will take place on 24 April followed by the Austrian and Great Britain Grand Prix on 1 July and 8 July, thereby marking the first time in F1 history that three races are taking place on consecutive weekends.

The circuit is unusually built on a plateau and is very flat. It measures 5.861 km in length and has 13 turns in total. The track also has distinct run-off areas known as Blue and Red Zone with the Blue Zone consisting of a mixture of tungsten and asphalt instead of the usual gravel pits.

#5 Biometric Gloves

F1 driver gloves

F1 is one of the most physically challenging sports in the world, with the drivers experiencing nearly 3.5g of cornering force in races and sweating of anything up to 3 kg of their body weight during the course of a race.

It is also one of the most dangerous sporting events in the world with the drivers having accidents at speeds of over 250 kmph and being susceptible to major injuries.

Hence, to ensure the safety of the driver in the case of an accident, the FIA has decided to place a 3mm sensor inside the drivers' gloves to monitor their vitals like their heart rate and oxygen in the blood to assist the medical staff in making split-second decisions.