FIA to clarify wheel rims rules following Mercedes controversy

The FIA are set to issue a technical directive clarification on what Formula One teams can and cannot do with the colling of the wheel rims and the spacers after controversy surrounding Mercedes.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting's directive will not be specifically revolving around the Silver Arrows on its rear wheels, where it has cooling holes - with some suggestions it could have aerodynamic benefits.

Mercedes didn't race with the design in the United States last weekend, fearful that Ferrari may protest about it after the race.

Before this weekend's Mexico Grand Prix, Mercedes requested clarification over the rules from the FIA, and it was due to come but it would have only applied to that certain race.

Whiting hopes that a technical directive will clarify the situation and put the matter to rest.

"Everyone knows that we deem it to be legal, that's no secret," Whiting told Autosport. "But what we will be doing is a more general technical directive, to deal with the subject generally, not specifically.

"We want to make sure someone doesn't come along with something slightly different or even significantly different and try and do the same thing. Between now and Brazil, we do have a Technical Working Group meeting during which we intend to develop a rule in order to be more generic about the whole business of cooling and the possible side effects too of aerodynamic influence."