Renault team boss Eric Boullier calls for end to diffuser row

Formula 1 technical chiefs and team bosses are set to meet ahead of the British Grand Prix to decide whether they support the ban on the off-throttle use of blown diffusers being ditched.

The FIA has offered to revert the rules back to how they were at the European Grand Prix providing there is unanimous support.

But although it is understood that Williams and Sauber may not support the move, and one source suggested there was 'no chance' of unanimity, Boullier is keeping his fingers crossed that outfits consider the biggest picture.

"We have to fix this," said Boullier. "It is not good to be seen again as a mini war in the paddock - and F1 does not need this wasted debate."

Boullier thinks that the best solution for everybody would be to have the rules how they were in Valencia - where off-throttle blowing was permitted but teams were not allowed elaborate engine maps for qualifying.

"Everyone accepted it, ran it, and it was reliable and safe," he said. "We should freeze the rule until the end of the year as it was. That would be a fair compromise for everybody."

Boullier thinks that the season is far enough advanced now for there to be no worries about teams developing more extreme blown floors - as the FIA fears.

"We are already in the middle of the season so I don't see many teams spending millions to develop onwards, especially for next year when it [blown diffusers] is banned. Maybe the top two teams only in championship."

The row over blown diffusers has dominated paddock talk at the British GP, and led some to question the damage it has done the sport's image, but Boullier thinks there is no lingering problem.

"It is maybe the concept of F1, having everybody in the same paddock so then you have a lot of stories," he said. "At the end, this started from a very simple fact that some teams were concerned about these developments, and Charlie [Whiting] tried to find a compromise. That didn't work - because everyone was pushing for their own interest.

"This is the common sense of F1, but I think the good thing is that there will be a positive outcome for this. People understand we need to find a compromise rather than keep fighting."