FIA President Max Mosley has refuted claims that it was Ferrari that 'blew the whistle' on the legality of Michelin's tyres.

At the recent Hungarian GP Ferrari was humiliated when Michael Schumacher could manage no better than eighth, behind seven Michelin runners, with race winner Fernando Alonso lapping the German for good measure.

The Italian media went into overdrive and Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo warned that further humiliation at the 'hands' of rival teams would not be tolerated.

For some time, even though it is clear that the F2003-GA is not the 'wonder car' Ferrari was claiming it to be, the Italian team's major problem has been that Michelin is winning the 'tyre war'. In Hungary the difference between the competitiveness of the Bridgestones and their French rivals was clear for all to see.

In the days that followed the Hungarian race, Mosley and the FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting visited Ferrari's Maranello HQ, two days later the FIA announced that there was a serious question mark over the legality of the Michelins.

"The subject was mentioned but not discussed in any detail," Mosley told The Guardian. "The visit had no influence on tyre measurement," he added.

"Charlie Whiting had already made it clear in Hungary that in future we would be looking at real tread width," he continued. "We realised that our previous method of measurement might need to be reviewed."

In a further twist to the story that has rocked the sport in recent days, Mosley said: "We have reason to believe that the tyres in Hungary were not identical to those in use at the start of the season. There may also have been changes to the way those tyres are being used."

At a time when Formula One is still struggling to repair the 'damage' done by several seasons of total domination by one team and one driver, in addition to the cynical manipulation of results, this is the last thing that the sport needs.

As proved earlier this season, particularly at Silverstone, when the race was thrown into chaos by an errant former priest, race fans, and indeed the general public, want to see on-track action rather than off-track politics and petty squabbling over rules that most of them don't understand.

Although we all want to see a good clean fight for the title, the sport might not survive another scandal especially if it appeared to play into the hands of a team currently, and clearly, losing its edge.