Dullest F1 row to date ends

The row over off throttle blown diffusers has now officially come to an end.

To most spectators either at Silverstone last weekend or the rest of us at home watching on television, the latest argument seemed just plain petty.

Formula One is all about the engineers and designers finding loopholes in the regulations to gain advantage, it has happened for years with the best example coming in 2009 when Brawn GP dominated the opening stages of the season and opening up enough of a gap for Jenson Button to go on to win the F1 World championship before the others could catch up.

This season Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has enjoyed a similar period of dominance which some attributed to the off throttle blown diffusers.

The technology directs exhaust gases over the rear floor even when the drivers are not pressing down on the accelerator, this gives the car more downforce, primarily when cornering which makes the cars faster.

It was never suppose to be legal in 2011 but some teams used a loophole in the regs, while those teams who were not clever enough to think of it complained.

That brought the FIA to the crossroads that it hit at Silverstone following Red Bull and McLaren playing out the debate during one of the pre-race press conferences.

So following a rather messy handling of the whole affair, with concessions given to teams using Mercedes engines (which includes McLaren) and not given to Renault teams (which includes Red Bull), the FIA have now decided to revert back to the regulations before Silverstone for the remainder of the season.

A statement from the FIA confirmed: 'this was felt to be the most sensible solution to a very complicated matter as the possibility of finding an alternative solution, which would be fair to all engine manufacturers, was becoming increasingly unlikely'.

The technology will be completely banned for 2012, ready for the designers and engineers to find another loophole in the regulations and for the bickering and moaning to go full circle on another topic.