Ferrari's Ross Brawn has admitted that it was the Italian team that tipped off the FIA regarding the legality of the Michelin tyres, despite Max Mosley's claim that it wasn't the Italian team.

The Italian outfit's technical director has revealed that his team contacted the FIA in Hungary after seeing photographic evidence that 'proved' the front tyres were wider than is allowed.

"It all started in Budapest when Bridgestone got hold of some photos taken in the paddock by a Japanese photographer," Brawn told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "They showed in an unequivocal way that the front Michelin tyres had an excessively large tread at the end of the race or after being used.

"We informed Charlie Whiting who, on the basis of his measurements and the photos, then sent the famous letter," continued the Englishman. "We could have pretended to have seen nothing, to not let the FIA know and then lodge a complaint at the following race (Monza), but that didn't seem like the right thing to do."

Michelin is known to be working on a compromise although whether the French company can produce enough tyres in time for next week's GP remains to be seen.

Furthermore now that there is open talk of boycotts and protests, F1 will hold its breath in the hope that what was turning out to be an epic championship battle will not descend into farce, with the titles behind decided by lawyers.

"I hope it does not come to that, that Michelin realise that they have enjoyed an illegal advantage for so long, too long, and that they conform to what the FIA sets out," said Brawn. "In any case, it's a problem for the sporting authorities."

The finger had already been pointed at Ferrari and quite how rival teams will react to this admission remains to be seen.

However, let's not forget that F1 is no longer a sport, it is business, very big business. And a World Championship title and each point accrued can be worth many millions.

One worrying factor however is that Brawn's admission comes hot on the heels of Mosley's denial. If F1 is to avoid serious lasting damage to its reputation it might be best for everyone to start singing from the same hymn-sheet.

The FIA has been accused of Ferrari bias in the past, this latest saga - coming as it does hot on the heels of one of Ferrari's most humiliating results in years - sends out all the wrong signals.