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The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s
World Motor Sports Council said in a statement that in future
only the last element fitted could be used at further events
without penalty.
Mercedes driver Hamilton, who had suffered engine failures
earlier in the year, took a 55-place starting grid penalty at
last month's Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding his permitted
allocation of engine components.
There are only 22 slots on the grid, which meant the Briton
started at the back but did not have to carry any of the
leftover penalty places to future races.
Mercedes had fitted three new power-units beyond Hamilton's
permitted allocation of five, expanding his pool of engines for
the final races.
The Briton is currently eight points behind German team mate and
championship leader Nico Rosberg with six races remaining,
including Sunday's in Malaysia.
The FIA also announced a new procedure for wet weather starts.
"From 2017, if a safety car is deemed to be required for the
beginning of a race due to wet weather, a normal standing start
will occur once the track is deemed safe to race," it said.
"The process will see the safety car return to the pit lane and
the cars assemble on the grid for the start."
Drivers, who at present cannot change their helmet designs
substantially over the course of a season to ensure easy
recognition, will be allowed a special livery at one race of
their choosing.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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