The dismally boring row over the use of off-throttle blown diffusers has apparently been resolved during Sunday at the British GP, with the two remaining teams still against the FIA's plan to drop the ban deciding to end their opposition.
Team representatives met before the race at Silverstone on Sunday, though initially no agreement was reached, with reports suggesting that both Ferrari and Sauber were holding firm.The teams were attempting to secure a unanimous agreement to the FIA's proposal to shelve the ban, after the governing body's attempts to push through strict limits on the contentious systems proved difficult.
But now it appears that both Ferrari and Sauber have dropped their opposition to the FIA's newest proposal, leaving the path clear for the ban to be dropped.
The new rules, which will come in for the German Grand Prix, will see teams allowed to use their off-throttle engine maps throughout the weekend, but the ban on 'qualifying-spec' maps, brought in for the European GP, will remain in place.
Bernie Ecclestone claimed during the BBC's pre-race show that contrary to reports of deadlock, the FIA plan had been agreed to unanimously.
And that was backed up by comments from Ferrari and Sauber, with Stefano Domenicali saying that he believed that the ban would be dropped and an agreement was reached.
"I think that this thing was not really good for everyone," he was quoted as saying by Autosport.
"We need to draw a line and now look ahead, because otherwise where we are going? Even if I think I don't agree with the process, for the benefit of the sport we should have action."
He added, slightly cheekily: "To be honest, when you think of the bigger picture you think of a wider opening. I have to say that I don't think all the people are behaving like we are."
Meanwhile, Sauber team boss Peter Sauber also seemed to agree that the whole issue was over.
"When Bernie tells that, normally it is true what he says," the Swiss man shrugged when told that Ecclestone had reported that the dispute was over.
"The whole thing is a shame. The whole thing...it started after the race in Montreal and finished I don't know when. I don't want to speak about it."
He added: "The FIA after Montreal said that this system is illegal and we will change it. And then we have a lot of discussion about the engine and all this rubbish. Everybody looked for himself. That is normal."
But despite his unhappiness, it appears that the Map-gate issue has finally been resolved.
The FIA has already confirmed that blown diffusers will be completely banned for 2012, with the new rules forcing teams to revert to top-exiting 'periscope' exhausts.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|





