League Rules

7. General Info

The league is split into multiple divisions with driver placement determined by completion of time trials. There is no promotion or relegation at the end of a season, but drivers may be moved still depending on number of sign ups and previous league performances. Teams are determined by the selection of Team Principles who will then participate in a draft in order to pick their drivers. The Team Principals will then manage their teams and drivers over the course of the season.

8. Champions

The driver/team that accumulates the most points over the season is declared Champion in each division, whilst the Team Principal with the combined most constructors’ points is declared as the overall Champion

9. Classification/ Points System

a. All drivers who completed 90% of the total race distance will be classified even if attempting to rejoin still at the time of race completion.

b. A driver who disconnected and did not rejoin after covering 90% of the race distance will be classified where their AI finished.

c. Points follow the standard F1 system of 25 per win, 18 for second and so on. A point is awarded for fastest lap for any driver in the top ten and we also follow real F1 scoring of 8 to 1 for sprint races.

10. Mid-Season Moves

A driver can be promoted or demoted at any point in the season at the discretion of the F1XL Management. We will try to ensure all moves are done as early in the season as possible to avoid disruption, but we reserve the right to move a driver at any time if the need is valid.

11. Race Timings / Lobby Information

a. All divisions run to the same timing plan. Races are held weekly, every Sunday. Exceptions to this would include festive holidays and occasions where a real life F1 race is at the same time. This would be communicated at the first available opportunity.

b. Official practice sessions start at 8pm* BST and run for 45 minutes.

c. Official Qualifying sessions start at 9pm* BST. Qualifying sessions run for 18 minutes (Short qualifying).

d. Official Sprint/ Race sessions start right after the Qualifying session is finished.

e. At the discretion of the Race Controllers, a 5-minute leeway is given for drivers that are running late. All sessions must start no later than 5 minutes after the official start time.

f. We advise all drivers to hard reset your console and router before any race session to reduce any chance of lag.

g. A minimum of 10 drivers is required for the race to start. A race with less than 10 drivers may be postponed or cancelled, but this will be at the discretion of the League Co-ordinators.

h. Drivers must ensure they are in the right car when the session is about to start. Starting the session in the wrong car will lead to a post-race penalty.

i. Only the drivers and commentators are allowed in the lobby.

12. Set Ups

a. The use of custom setups in F1XL is not allowed.

b. You may use any of the 5 default setups.

c. You may only change parts of your setup that the game allows you to (Fuel level for the race, Front Wing angle at the first pitstop, differential & brake bias out on track etc.)

d. F1XL Management may adapt or change these rules depending on the status of the game and the functionality of its systems. This will be communicated out at the first opportunity.

e. Drivers are expected to use the correct tyre compound during qualifying and races. Going on track on intermediates or wets in dry conditions or going on dry tyres in the wet, is NOT allowed. 

13. Lobby Settings

• Qualifying – Short Qualifying (18 minutes)

• Race distance – 50%

• Weather – Dynamic

• Weather accuracy - Approximate

• Session start time – Realistic

• Car performance – Equal

• Parc Fermé – On

• Damage – Reduced

• Damage Rate - Standard

• Collisions – On

• Safety car – Standard

• Safety car experience - Immersive

• Corner cutting stringency – Strict.

• Red flags - On

• Formation lap – On

• Formation lap experience - Immersive

• Race starts – Manual.

• Low fuel mode - Hard

• Pit stop experience - Immersive. 

• Setup – Presets Only

• Braking Assist, Steering assist & Pit Assist are forced off. Any other assists are allowed in all leagues.

• AI Difficulty:

- Division 1 – Level 96

- Division 2 – Level 91

- Division 3 – Level 86

- Division 4 – Level 81

- Division 5 - Level 76

- Division 6- Level 71

- Division 7 - Level 66

- Division 8 - Level 61

The AI difficulty rule has been brought into effect to try and make things fairer for a racer that may disconnect during the race. It has been agreed upon that the AI difficulty levels for each formula are still lower than the levels of the drivers that are left running in the race, so no advantage will be gained if a driver disconnects and is taken over by the AI until they reconnect.

21. Qualifying

a. Giving a tow to any driver from a different team is prohibited. In that case, the towing driver and the towed driver may be both penalised.

b. Drivers catching slower cars are allowed to move into their slipstream.

c. If a driver is awarded what they believe to be an unfair grid place penalty, they must contact the League Co-ordinators as quickly as possible and make them aware of the situation. Regardless of if the penalty is fair or not, a new lobby will be set up at the end of the Qualifying session. Sending evidence of the penalty is not required.

d. No restart will be made for the following scenarios:

i. A driver spins and is disqualified for stopping in a dangerous place.

e. Cars not on a flying lap must make every effort not to interfere with other vehicles in any way. The following are considered as qualifying interference:

i. Obstruction: failing to get out of a driver’s way

ii. Visually impairment, distracting a driver: standing in an uncomfortable position for the faster driver, blocking their vision.

iii. Giving dirty air: remaining ahead of a driver through a sequence of corners

iv. Losing control of their car and forcing other drivers to take evasive actions susceptible to cause a loss of time.

f. If a driver is being obstructed, they must make every reasonable effort to avoid causing a crash. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

g. Purposefully crashing during qualifying is a serious offence. You MUST record the incident if you crash out of qualifying so that you have a defence against a ticket should one arise. If you crash out of qualifying and do not record the incident, it could be assumed that you did this on purpose.

h. During the qualifying session you may only retire whilst inside your pit box. This is to avoid any incidents with cars not ghosting once retired and blocking other driver’s laps. You will be liable for any tickets for blocking or causing a collision during qualifying if you retire out on track. This rule does not apply if you crash out of qualifying. 

i. If there’s not enough time for a driver to leave the pits and start a final push lap, they should not leave the pits as the AI will take control of their car when the timer hits 0:00. If a driver’s AI causes qualifying interference for that reason, they might be deemed responsible.

22. Qualifying Ban

a. Drivers serving a qualifying ban are allowed to do an “installation lap”. That means they can leave the pits and go straight back in at the end of the lap. They must not cross the start/finish line.

b. In case of a lobby restart in between the end of qualifying and the start of the race, a driver having served their qualifying ban will be put at the back of the grid.

23. Qualifying Tyres

Drivers are expected to use the correct tyre compound during qualifying. Going on track on intermediates or wets in dry conditions or going on dry tyres in the wet, is NOT allowed. 

24. Race Tyres

a. During a dry race, all drivers are required to use at least 2 different dry tyre compounds, failure to do so will result in a disqualification. If wet tyres (intermediate and/or extreme) are required during the race, the previous rule no longer applies.

b. Going on track on intermediates or wets in dry conditions or going on dry tyres in the wet, is NOT allowed.

25. Formation Lap & Grid Start

a. The driver starting from pole position will set the pace.

b. Drivers must remain within roughly 10 car lengths of the car ahead.

c. Deliberately crashing on the formation lap is not allowed and will result in a severe penalty.

d. Intentionally hitting another driver under formation lap conditions is not permitted. 

e. The Race Controllers decide when to press ‘A’ to begin the race and will communicate this on Discord. Any driver pressing “A” before this time will receive a reprimand + 5 seconds penalty.

26. Pit entry, Pit Lane, Pit exit

a. The section of track between the first safety car line and the beginning of the pit lane will be designated the “pit entry”.

b. The section of track between the end of the pit lane and the second safety car line will be designated the “pit exit”.

c. Any driver intending to enter or to leave the pits must make sure it is safe to do so and must ensure they do not hinder passing cars.

27. Starting The Race

Drivers must start the race by themselves. Starting the race in AI mode will automatically result in a warning due to safety issues. If any sort of advantage is gained, a more severe penalty will be awarded instead of a warning. 

28. Track Limits

a. The white lines that define the track edges are considered to be part of the track, but the kerbs are not.

b. Drivers must make every reasonable effort to stay on the track at all times and may not deliberately leave the track without justifiable reason.

c. A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of their car remains in contact with the track.

d. A driver who has left the track may rejoin it only and only if it is safe to do so, and without gaining an advantage.

e. If a driver is deemed to have gained an advantage by leaving the track, they must make every effort to give back the whole of any advantage gained. 

29. Resetting to the Track

Drivers are allowed to reset to the track as long as they do not endanger any other driver. A track reset is deemed dangerous when a driver rejoins the track in front of another, irrespective of whether you are ghosted or not.

30. Track Furniture

a. Intentionally taking out brake marker boards is considered as unsportsmanlike behaviour and is therefore prohibited.

b. Drivers will not be penalised for impacting and displacing any bollard on the circuit.

31. Driving Standards

a. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically, or in any manner that may be deemed potentially dangerous.

b. Drivers are allowed to go into AI (by pausing the game) for a limited amount of time but they are always responsible for what their car does.

32. Overtaking And Defending

a. Overtaking may be done from the left or the right.

b. More than one change of direction to defend a position is not permitted and may result in a penalty.

c. At the beginning of a straight, a driver may “break the tow” by moving off-line and getting back onto the racing line once without it being considered as a defensive manoeuvre.

d. Any driver defending their position on a straight, and before any braking area, may use the full width of the track during their first move providing there is no significant portion of the opposing car alongside them. To clear any doubt, a significant portion of the car is deemed as any part of the front wheel is ahead of the rear axle of the car in front.

e. Defensive manoeuvre should always be proactive. Reactive defending & blocking are strictly prohibited. If the defending driver forces the overtaking driver into taking evasive actions, their driving will be judged unsafe and is likely to result in a penalty.

f. Any driver having defended their position off-line may move back towards the racing line but must leave a car width of space between them and the edge of the track, regardless of if the car they are defending against is alongside or not. That rule applies on the approach of a corner and through its braking zone. The defending driver may fully return to the racing line if considered safe, but they must do so sufficiently early so the overtaking driver can understand the gap will close before they enter the braking zone.

g. Moving under braking is prohibited and may result in a penalty. Braking in a “diagonal way” (i.e. in a straight line but not parallel to the track) may be considered as moving under braking.

h. Manoeuvres liable to hinder other cars, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any abnormal change in direction such as weaving on a straight is not permitted and may result in a penalty.

i. If a driver leaves the track whilst defending their position (due to carrying too much space, failing to leave space for their opponent(s), etc), they may be awarded a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

j. When 2 drivers are fighting side-by-side through a corner, the defending driver is expected to leave racing room to the overtaking driver as long as they remain sufficiently alongside, if the nature of the corner allows it. Racing room is defined as the amount of space required for the 2 drivers to go through the corner without making contact. It is usually equal to one car width. A driver is deemed alongside when their front axle is next to or in front of the other driver’s rear axle. 

k. Causing collisions to gain advantages (a position for instance) is prohibited. Particularly, running into the side of another car on the exit of a corner to hinder them is prohibited and may be penalised if the driver is deemed to have gained a significant advantage.

l. An overtaking car must take reasonable effort to avoid contact with the opposing vehicle and must not make dangerous or unnecessary manoeuvres to pass. Drivers causing incidents through dangerous overtaking manoeuvres may be penalised. Overtaking cars are responsible for avoiding collisions.

m. A defending car must be aware of when to concede their position to the opposing vehicle, any action taken to defend their positions deemed dangerous may be penalised.

n. If a driver's car is ghosted, they must continue to race as though it is not. Using the situation to their advantage by driving purposefully through other cars is prohibited.

o. This list is by no means exhaustive and F1XL Management reserve the right to amend and update as needed. 

33. Giving Back a Position

a. A driver looking to give a position away should first make sure it is safe to do so. Unsafely letting a car through might result in a penalty.

b. When a driver gives up a position gained illegally (by leaving the track for example), letting the other driver get ahead is not sufficient. They are expected to end the wheel-to-wheel battle before attempting another overtaking manoeuvre.

c. In case of illegal overtakes, hit-to-pass, etc, drivers must give back the position at the earliest opportunity. Not doing so will result in a penalty. That rule still applies if the overtaken driver lost one or multiple places. However, if both the overtaking and overtaken driver have lost a position due to such incidents, the overtaking driver is not required to give up the position as they are likely to be penalised for causing the overtaken driver to lose a position.

d. For other types of incidents, drivers should not slow down and wait to let the overtaken driver through, even if this is done as a sportsmanship act. Doing so will not result in a penalty but won’t be taken into consideration when investigated by the stewards either.

34. Lapped Cars

a. As soon as a driver is caught by another about to lap them, they must allow the faster driver through at the earliest opportunity. They have the current and the entirety of the next sector to do so. 

b. Any driver deemed to have attempted to deliberately block or hinder the faster car will be severely penalised.

c. Lapped cars are allowed to unlap themselves if their pace allows them to create a gap in a reasonable amount of time. However, they are not allowed to battle the lapping car.

35. Safety Car/ Virtual Safety Car

a. When the SC/VSC is deployed, drivers must respect the SC/VSC Delta, failure to do so may result in a penalty. The delta may be exceeded by drivers before pitting, in the limit of what the game allows.

b. In case a driver overtakes another as the Safety Car is deployed, they must give up the position(s) gained if the move was clearly completed after the “Safety Car deployed” message is displayed. They may do so during the SC period (by going off track briefly in order to allow the other driver(s) through) or after the SC restart.

c. Drivers must do their best to remain as close to the delta as possible. Unless exceptional circumstances, at no time should a driver be more than 2 seconds under the delta.

d. Drivers must drive safely under SC/VSC to avoid any contact. Sudden change of directions or/and heavy braking may be penalised.

e. Overtaking any car under SC/VSC is prohibited. However, there are exceptions:

i. If a driver is signalled to do so by the game.

ii. When entering the pits, a driver may pass another car remaining on the track after having reached the first safety car line.

iii. When leaving the pits, a driver may overtake, or be overtaken by, another car on the track before having reached the second safety car line.

iv. When the Safety Car is returning to the pits, it may be overtaken by cars on the track once it has reached the first safety car line.

v. Whilst in the pit entry, pit lane, pit exit, a driver may overtake another car which is also in one of those 3 areas.

vi. If a car noticeably slows down due to an issue

f. Unless glitches or mitigating circumstances (rule 18.2 for instance), letting other drivers through under SC/VSC conditions is prohibited.

g. Under Safety Car conditions, drivers must remain within a distance of 10 car-lengths to the car in front (or to the Safety Car for the leader)

h. Drivers not having caught up to the queue of drivers must always try to (re)join it as quickly as possible. However, they may do so at slightly reduced speed to avoid degrading their tyres.

i. Until the restart (i.e. when the leader has got up to speed), drivers are not allowed to go alongside one another.

j. When the Safety Car is about to come in, the leader may dictate the pace and fall back more than 10 car-lengths behind it. The pace of the leader must remain constant. Once the leader decides to restart the race, they are not allowed to slow down again, start-and-stops are prohibited. If the leader goes too early (i.e. the SC doesn’t have time to enter the pits) and gets their throttle restricted by the game, they will be deemed responsible and punished in case of unsafe restart.

k. When the Safety Car period ends, overtaking before the start/finish line is prohibited.

l. After the Safety Car pits, the lead car must not reduce speed below 50 mph/ 80kph

36. Cheating

a. Cheating is strictly prohibited and will result in an indefinite ban.

b. If a driver is subject to a glitch and gains an advantage out of it, they are expected to give it up as soon as possible. Not doing so may result in a penalty.

c. Abusing any game glitch is prohibited and may be punished.

d. If a driver is found to have cheated, they will be disqualified from all the races they have taken part in. The race results will be amended to make sure the driver had no bearing on the championship.

e. Drivers must drive for themselves and their own team. Any sort of cooperation between 2 drivers that are not part of the same team is strictly prohibited.

f. Deliberately crashing is not allowed and will result in a severe penalty.

g. Deliberately causing another driver severe damage or to DNF will result in a severe penalty up to and including a permanent ban.

h. Deliberate attempts to circumvent any perceived loopholes or temporary rules changes will result in severe penalties.

37. Game Related Issues

a. Disconnections during Qualifying:

i. If a driver disconnects during qualifying, they are permitted to rejoin during the session and retake control of their car.

ii. If a driver disconnects and is unable to rejoin, the lobby will carry on until the end of qualifying and the driver will be permitted to try and join again for the race.

iii. If multiple drivers disconnect and there are problems rejoining, the lobby may be restarted with a new host.

b. Disconnections between qualifying and race:

i. If a driver disconnects in between qualifying and the race, the League Co-ordinators may set up a new lobby using the grid editor feature.

ii. If the lobby is reset, prior qualifying results will stand.

c. Disconnection during the race:

i. Drivers are allowed to rejoin the race if they disconnect and retake control of their car.

ii. Outside of a collapsed or split lobby, under no circumstances will the race be restarted due to a disconnection.

iii. If a driver disconnects and cannot rejoin before the end of the race they will be awarded full points as long as 90% of the race has been completed.

38. Collapsed, Split or Glitched Lobby

a. The actions taken in the event of a collapsed, split or ‘glitched’ lobby are at the discretion of the League Co-ordinators

b. If less than 50% of the race has been completed, then a postponement or full restart can be called. If over 50% but less than 75% of the race has been completed, the race result can be called with half points awarded. If over 75% of the race has been completed, the race results can be called with full points awarded.

39. Reset Lobby

a. Weather settings for a new race lobby will be based on the original race conditions using custom weather settings. If qualifying is restarted, dynamic weather will be used.

b. If the session fails to start within 50 minutes of the original scheduled start time, the event will be abandoned and either postponed or cancelled at the League Co-ordinator’s discretion.