FIA tells top teams to change ‘splitters’ – reports

UPDATE (GMM) Two F1 correspondents have contradicted reports about allegedly illegal 'splitters' aboard the top Red Bull, Lotus and Mercedes cars.

Italian reports had said F1's governing body warned the teams to make changes before China, after scrutineers flagged the too-flexible front floor solutions in Malaysia recently.

But Jennie Gow, the pitlane reporter for British radio BBC, said on Tuesday that she has "spoken to Lotus and Merc who say FIA splitter story is just that — a story!"

"Both teams passed tests and no changes to make," she added on Twitter.

German correspondent for Auto Motor und Sport, Tobias Gruner, agreed: "Neither Lotus and Mercedes nor Red Bull was asked to change the splitter.

"So everybody calm down!"

04/02/13 (GMM) F1's governing body has warned three top teams to make changes to their cars ahead of the next race in China, it has emerged.

Italian reports, including in the pages of Italiaracing and Omnicorse, claim the FIA has reacted after scrutineers flagged controversial solutions in the area of the underbody presented in Malaysia by Red Bull, Lotus and Mercedes.

The reports say the cars' 'splitters' are too flexible, with the teams told to make changes for Shanghai to avoid sanction.