Page last updated at 10:56 GMT, Saturday, 9 July 2011 11:56 UK
By Andrew Benson
BBC Sport at Silverstone
Whiting has reversed a decision to allow Renault to run its engines on 50% throttle when the driver is not pressing the accelerator
Formula 1 bosses have made a U-turn on a rule change that has caused a row between Red Bull and McLaren at the British Grand Prix.
Less than half an hour before practice on Saturday, governing body the FIA reversed a rule change introduced on Friday after pressure from Red Bull.
The world champions believe the rules now put them at a disadvantage.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh described the late decision as "a bit frustrating and a bit shocking".
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refused to comment to BBC Sport when asked for his judgement about the ruling.
He had stormed off to see FIA race director Charlie Whiting after discovering that the Friday ruling had been reversed.
An extraordinary meeting of F1's technical working group - which features leading technical figures and FIA director Whiting - was called after practice on Saturday to try to reach a consensus on the issue.
Whitmarsh, Horner and Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn also attended the meeting.
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz said: "Charlie Whiting told me: 'Don't be fooled by anyone telling you that Mercedes are going to get an advantage out of this, because they are not.' It's just that Red Bull perceive they are at a disadvantage.
BBC 5 live analyst Anthony Davidson said: "The teams are not looking for equality, not at all. They are looking for an advantage."
On Friday, Whitmarsh and Horner had had a public row in a news conference over the issue, which surrounds a technology known as off-throttle blowing of diffusers, which has become a key issue in F1 in the last year.
This is where teams blow exhaust gases over the rear floor of the car even when the driver is not pressing the accelerator, smoothing the airflow and therefore increasing downforce and grip.
The FIA had ruled that teams would be allowed from the British Grand Prix no more than 10% throttle opening when the drivers were not pressing the accelerator.
Mercedes argued that they should be allowed to introduce some fuel into the engine on what is known as 'the over-run' - when the car was braking - on the basis that they had been allowed this two years previously to enhance reliability.
Although the engine is reduced to running on only four of its eight cylinders at this point, this will inevitably lead to some blowing of the diffuser, and therefore the creation of some downforce.
Renault, by contrast, does not fuel its engine on the over-run and argued that it should be allowed to compensate by opening the throttles to a specific amount, something it says it has always done to ensure reliability.
The FIA initially accepted Renault's argument and the French company will now be allowed to run its engines on 50% throttle when the driver is not pressing the accelerator.
This decision was then reversed on Saturday morning.
Credit: BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
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