FIA summons technical chiefs for urgent meeting amid exhaust rules row

After yesterday's public dispute between Red Bull team boss Christian Horner and McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh over the concessions their respective engine suppliers Renault and Mercedes were awarded for reliability reasons in the clampdown over off-throttle exhaust blowing, the FIA announced this morning that the Renault-powered teams would not get their 50 per cent throttle allowance after all.

This prompted Horner and Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey to make an urgent visit to FIA race director Charlie Whiting, who then called the TWG meeting.

"In order to discuss the subject of engine mapping there will be an extraordinary meeting of the TWG at 11.30 today in the meeting room adjacent to the F1 stewards office," said a note to teams issued by Whiting.

"It is important that each team sends a senior technical representative and we suggest that each team principal should also attend."

In a note issued to teams earlier today, Whiting said that the information that led to the Renault allowance had been received too late.

"Following further discussions with teams and engine manufacturers we are now in a position to offer the following view which we will enforce with immediate effect," said the bulletin.

"In line with the requirements to provide acceptable SECU configurations to the FIA before the start of the British GP, i.e. before the start of the event at 10.00 on Thursday, we consider any information provided after that time to be inadmissible for this event.

"Therefore, for the reminder of this event the requirements of TD/022-11 and TD025-11 stand as written and, as an exception (of which every engine manufacturer was aware before the start oft his event) fired overrun in FC04 will be permitted."

AUTOSPORT understands that Whiting has discussed the controversy with Bernie Ecclestone.