The 2005 Formula One season was a watershed
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-20 11:16

In the first, the five slowest cars will drop out after the first 15 minutes, and five more will depart after the next 15. The remaining cars will compete in a 20-minute session for the top spots on the grid.

In 2005, tire changes were outlawed except in rare cases. Next season pit stops for tire changes return with teams able to change their rubber as often as they want.

Next season will also see the introduction of V8 engines, replacing the V10s. All teams are expected to run V8s except Toro Rosso, which will used a V10 equipped with an RPM-limiting device.

Renault and McLaren keep the same driver teams. Felipe Massa replaces Rubens Barrichello at Ferrari, with Barrichello going to Honda.

Nico Rosberg steps in at Williams to team with Mark Webber. Nick Heidfeld has left Williams, joining Jacques Villeneuve at BMW-Sauber.

Midland will have Christijan Albers and Tiago Monteiro. Albers moves over from Minardi.

The old Minardi team, which was sold to Red Bull and will run as Toro Rosso, is going with Italy's Tonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed. The Californian will be the first American driver in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993.