FIA: Engine unfreeze a one-off

The FIA listened to requests from teams to even up engine performance after some car makers felt they had lost out because rivals had made power improvements despite a development freeze.

And although Renault were allowed to make performance improvements to their power units to lift them closer to the best engines, FIA race director Charlie Whiting has said such moves will not become a regular event.

"We gave all the teams the opportunity to submit a list of things they would like to change in order to achieve engine parity, because there seemed to be some disparity between engine performance, which was not intended," said Whiting on Tuesday.

"Then, with Honda's withdrawal - they appeared to be the ones down on power - the engine manufacturers agreed among themselves that they would not seek any engine parity changes, and they would allow Renault to do something.

"It's what I would describe as a minor upgrade. It's a one-off thing; it's not an on-going thing. Now, teams have submitted their list; we've agreed to it and that's the end of it until 2012."