Exhaust saga finally ended as Ferrari, Sauber sign up

The blown diffuser saga is – we hope – finally over as all 12 teams have now agreed to return to the rules as they were in Valencia.

In a meeting this morning 10 of the teams signed a five-point letter of agreement, while Ferrari and Sauber initially declined to do so. However, while some team principals were in the meeting, Ferrari was represented only by technical director Pat Fry and engine chief Luca Marmorini, and presumably they felt they had to check with their boss before making any commitment.

Between the meeting and the race Martin Whitmarsh also had contact with Domenicali, who then told the McLaren chief on the grid that his team now agreed with the proposal. Sauber, who had apparently said that if they were the only dissenter they would agree, also signed.

The basis of the agreement is that everyone accepts the rules as in Valencia, and agrees not to protest on the matter in the course of the season.

Although he declined to confirm publicly that he had signed, Domenicali conceded that a solution was on the way.

“This situation was not good for anyone,” said Domenicali. “We need to draw a line and look ahead, because otherwise, where are we going? Even if I don’t agree that for the process that was taken, I think for the benefit of the sport we took that action.”

In another era one might imagine a scenario where Ferrari said ‘we like the rules as we are now,’ but things have changed at Maranello under Domenicali.

But equally having won what is likely to be the only race of 2011 under the ‘legal’ diffuser rules Ferrari will clearly score some PR points by then handing back the advantage it apparently had this weekend.

“When you think of the bigger picture, you have to have a wide opening in your mind,” said Domenicali. “I have to sayI don’t think a lot of people would behave like we are.”