The 1994 season marked a significant shift in Formula One regulations. Alongside the presence of mid-race refueling, the FIA implemented several bans on "driver aids" due to safety concerns over ever-higher speeds. These prohibitions included active suspension, four-wheel steering, and continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). The ban on CVTs followed successful 1993 tests in the Williams FW15C, which proved the technology had the potential to provide an advantage of several seconds per lap. Gearboxes were subsequently required to have between 2 and 7 discrete gear ratios.
The ability to refuel added an element to each car's race strategy. This period also saw changes in tire and engine regulations. Formula 1 has contracted a single supplier of tyres since the 2007 season. During the latter part of the refueling era, the supplier provided two types of dry tyres at each race weekend, known as the Prime and the Option. The Prime tyre was usually harder and more durable, while the Option tyre provided more grip and allowed for faster lap times when fresh.
Technical regulations also governed engine construction. The use of carbon composite materials for the cylinder block, cylinder head, and pistons was not allowed. Additionally, the crankshaft and camshafts were required to be made of steel or cast iron. Devices designed to inject any substance into the cylinders other than air and fuel (petrol) were forbidden.
The 1994 season was also defined by a focus on safety following the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna. Skid blocks were mandated to increase ride height, reduce the impact of ground effect, and slow the cars down.
The era was marked by significant disciplinary actions under the FIA regulations. In 1997, Michael Schumacher was excluded from the world championship after he deliberately turned in on Jacques Villeneuve during the final race. In 2007, the McLaren team was excluded from the Constructors' Championship due to the "Spygate" scandal. Other teams have faced similar penalties, such as the Tyrrell team being excluded in 1984 due to a technical infringement.
Refueling was no longer permitted starting with the 2010 season. Historically, the primary reasons behind rule changes have been safety and, mostly since 2000, limiting the cost of the sport. The 2010 season also saw an amended scoring system, which was updated because of two new teams entering the sport.
The scoring system was revised in 2003 and later amended for 2010. To receive points, a racer did not need to finish the race, but they had to complete at least 90% of the winner's race distance. If a driver retired before the end of the race, scoring was based on the distance completed in comparison to other drivers. It was possible for lower points not to be awarded if insufficient drivers completed 90% of the winner's distance, which occurred at the 2005 United States Grand Prix.
Race procedures and penalties remained strictly enforced throughout this period. Drivers could incur a drive-through penalty or a ten-second stop-go penalty for various offences. The stop-go penalty is the harshest penalty short of disqualification and is given for serious offences such as endangering other drivers. If a driver incurs a penalty within the last five laps of a race, twenty seconds are added to their total race time for a drive-through, and thirty seconds are added for a stop-go penalty.