The FIA approves in-season testing's return and penalty points system for 2014

The FIA confirmed on Friday that in-season testing will return next year.

Testing aside, the penalty points system for drivers that was first mooted last season has been approved. The idea, which follows the system used for road licences, will see a driver who picks up a total of 12 points banned for one race. Points will stay on a driver's licence for 12 months and the amount picked up will vary from one to three, depending on the severity of the offence. Elsewhere, the FIA has adopted in its Sporting Regulations the procedure whereby any driver gaining an advantage by leaving the track being forced to hand the place back. It's also been confirmed that each driver will be handed an extra set of tyres for use in the first 30 minutes of P1, in order to encourage teams to send cars out on track. Returning to 2014's new power units, only five will be available to each driver during the course of the season. Replacing an entire power unit will mean that a car must start a race from the pitlane, while changes to individual components such as turbo, MGU or energy store will mean a ten-place grid penalty. At present, eight engines are allowed per driver per season and there will also be more stringent use of gearboxes next year: up to six consecutive races from the current five.