Mosley is ‘intensely irritated’ by rising speeds

Higher front wings and a reduction in the number of aerodynamic elements allowed on the rear wing were suggested by the Formula 1 Technical Working Group, a 'think tank' of F1 designers, to balance out the increased grip levels resulting from the tyre war between Michelin and Bridgestone. But in Melbourne, lap times were up to four seconds quicker than in 2000.

Speaking to ITV's Jim Rosenthal, the head of motorsport's governing body said: "I was intensely irritated [by the drop in lap times]. We sat the Technical Working Group down and said 'we know there will be a tyre war, we know speeds will go up, so we must do something'."

Mosley said the TWG was asked to come up with a package to counter the extra levels of grip and that it had been confident that the aerodynamic changes would do the job, but added: "They got their sums wrong and we get the blame for it."

Mosley also dismissed pleas from drivers not to make the cars slower, saying that the FIA would always act in the best interests of the sport and for maximising safety.

Lap times have tumbled at Sepang, but so far not to the same degree as in Melbourne. The FIA will also study performance and lap speed in Brazil before deciding if it should implement changes to slow the cars. Should changes be deemed necessary, one solution is to add a fifth groove to the tyres - a move that the tyre companies are arguing against.