Standing restarts won't be used; Virtual Safety Car to be introduced; Safety Car to no longer wait for lapped cars to catch pack; 10-second penalties added to list of driver sanctions; Super Licence age increased to 18 from 2016

The FIA has confirmed it will scrap the controversial double points finale to the F1 season as part of a raft of rule changes approved at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Doha.

The decision to award double points in Abu Dhabi this year provoked outrage among F1 fans and, while it did not influence the championship outcome, has been dispensed with after just one season.

Following successful trials after practice sessions in 2014, a Virtual Safety Car will be introduced next year. “It will normally be used when double-waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the Safety Car itself,” the FIA confirmed.

In another new procedure, the Safety Car will now pit once the last lapped car has passed, rather than waiting for lapped cars to catch the pack.

Following a Safety Car period the races will resume with a normal rolling start behind the leader after the standing starts proposal was rescinded.

A 10-second stop/go penalty, which can be served before a pitstop is carried out, will be introduced in 2015 after a similar five-second stop/go penalty worked successfully this year.

The replacement of an entire power unit will no longer result in a pitlane start in 2015, instead penalties will be applied cumulatively for individual components of the power unit.

Grid penalties for power unit components will no longer carry over to the following race if the entire penalty cannot be served. Time penalties will be introduced instead, running on a sliding scale depending on the number of penalty places still to be served.

The minimum weight of the 2015 cars will also be increased slightly to 702kg without fuel, up from the originally planned 701kg. In 2014 the cars had a minimum weight of 691kg.

The FIA has also made revisions to the requirements to obtain a Super Licence which will take affect from 2016. The changes will mean drivers must be aged 18 or over and have completed at least two years in junior formulae.