Ferrari, Mercedes GP and Force India had to make minor modifications to their driver overalls ahead of first practice for the German GP after the FIA indicated their old versions to be in contravention of the regulations.
FIA's regulations state that a badge that confirms drivers' overalls comply with the governing body's safety standards should be "embroidered" onto the neck collar. However, the overall suppliers of the three teams involved in the matter are believed to have used a screen printing process instead – which is not strictly allowed under the wording of the rules.
Appendix III of the FIA's document about FIA Standard 8856-2000 which relates to protective clothing for automobile drivers, states: "The label shall be embroidered directly onto the outermost label of the outer garment and on the rear of the collar so as to be easily visible."
The three teams involved in the matter were told on Friday night that by the time the drivers left the pit lane they should be wearing overalls that complied with the rules, with all doing so. It is not clear why the issue of the labels was only picked up on the eve of the German Grand Prix, with teams having used the screen-printed versions of their labels for many races.