FIA president Max Mosley has indicated that there will be no change in the one-tyre per race rgulations and called on Formula 1's teams to make safety their number one priority in the wake of Kimi Raikkonen's last lap retirement from the European Grand Prix.
Raikkonen's suspension failed through vibrations from a flat-spotted right-front tyre sending him into the barriers at 140mph – prompting some within F1 to call into question whether the rule is dangerous.
McLaren's decision to keep Raikkonen on-track sparked a debate as to what constituted a 'tyre in dangerous condition' – the only situation under which a tyre can be changed during a race.
But the FIA has suggested that not only is it the team's responsibility to ensure its car is safe to race, but that a car may be black-flagged if the stewards deemed its technical integrity to be in doubt.
"It should not be forgotten that a mechanical failure at high speed may involve a degree of risk to the spectating public," said Mosley in an open letter to the teams.
"If you are in any doubt about your car, you should always call it in.
"If you are still in doubt after checking the car in the pits, you should retire it from the race."
Mosley emphasised that the letter was not a swipe at McLaren, but that it was time for F1 in general to take stock of the situation.
"We do not want to feed the localised and ill-considered hysteria about tyres, nor is this letter in any way a criticism of McLaren Mercedes (most of us would probably have done the same in their place last weekend)," said Mosley.
"However we have sent the attached letter to both tyre companies and we feel this is the right moment to ask everyone to remember their responsibilities.
"When a car's mechnical integrity has, or may have, been compromised by a race incident, it is for the team to decide whether to continue, make a pit stop or retire from the race."
Mclaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh claimed after the race that a lack of clarity over what is considered a tyre's 'dangerous condition' has left teams with an awkward choice that could lead to sacrificing a strong result unnecessarily.
"We took a decision which obviously has created a precedent now, and which demonstrates how dangerous it is," he said. "These regulations have given us a dilemma we would rather not have."
Mosley also wrote a separate letter to the tyre manufacturers Bridgestone and Michelin indicating that tyres should be robust enough to withstand any race condtion.
"Tyres should be built to be reliable under all circumstances," he told both companies.
"Including prolonged periods under the safety car, off-road excursions, abuse on kerbs, contact with other cars and contact with debris on the track.
"We are confident that we can rely on you to make every effort to see that there are no more tyre failures this season."
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