Following a meeting at the Qatar Grand Prix in November, where the FIA note "constructive input," the driving standard guidelines have been amended to "align with the objectives expressed by the drivers and GPDA."

As well as changes to how penalty points are issued, the FIA have also confirmed updates to guidelines surrounding attempts to avoid collisions, and overtaking.

The new guidelines say that, as a general policy: "Penalty points will be applied only for dangerous, reckless or apparently deliberate actions resulting in a collision, or other unacceptable driving behaviour or unsportsmanlike behaviour on the part of the driver."

The FIA have also noted that "more flexibility will be exercised by the Stewards in imposing the standards," and added four key main caveats with regard to what stewards can consider.

The four caveats are as follows:

1. A car being overtaken, or performing an overtake, cannot simply “disappear”

2. A lock up or small steering correction do not necessarily imply a driver has lost control

3. An apparent temporary loss of control, or a lock up, may be due to an attempt to avoid a collision, or simply the “laws of physics”.

4. The apex may vary depending on the racing line taken and/or the nature of the corner itself.

Other guidelines have also been added for "expected behaviour" under yellow and blue flags, which have been introduced to provide "better clarity" for drivers.

Among the guidelines for blue flags, the FIA note: "Failure to allow the overtake on the next straight section of track will likely be considered a breach.

Meanwhile, for yellow flags, the stewards are to follow these eight guidelines when judging possible infringements:

"i) The onus rests with the driver to demonstrate a sufficient reduction of speed to satisfy the rules.

ii) The extent of speed reduction considered acceptable may vary depending on the conditions and visibility of and through the incident

iii) The requirement that a driver be prepared to stop in the case of Double Waved Yellow Flags means that the speed reduction must be significantly and noticeably greater than in the case of a Single Waved Yellow Flag.

iv) In evaluating compliance with the rules, the Stewards will pay close attention to the extent of driver input (throttle pedal, brake pedal, steering angle) prior to and through the incident location.

v) It will be up to the driver to demonstrate to the Stewards, via the “driver input” referred to above or by the method below, that they have complied with the regulations.

vi) One method of demonstrating compliance (but not the only method) would be, in the case of a Single Waved Yellow Flag, an increase in the time taken to traverse the flag sector, of at least 5% compared to the driver’s previous lap(s) under similar conditions.

vii) Similarly, one method of demonstrating a significant reduction of speed and preparedness to stop, (again, not the only method) would be, in the case of Double Waved Yellow Flags, an increase in the time taken to traverse the flag sector, of at least 15% compared to the driver’s previous lap(s) under similar conditions.

viii) In considering what is a lap under ‘similar conditions’ the Stewards will take into account tyre compound, tyre condition, fuel load, energy deployment and weather conditions.

ix) Any car losing control under a yellow flag or double yellow flag will usually be investigated."

Franco Colapinto has learned his fate after narrowly avoiding a huge crash with Lewis Hamilton in the second practice session in Melbourne.

The Alpine driver was driving slowly down the main straight, but did not move off the racing line while Hamilton's Ferrari went at full speed to start a new lap.