Reading this headline you almost wish that the loophole being talked about here pertains to the double diffuser concept. Although that might mean a heavy exercise in terms of time and money to go back to their drawing boards and redraw their 2010 cars, it might just help the on track action a bit. But this is wishful thinking at its best and such as it is comes true only in dreams.

The ‘hole’ talked about here is the starter mechanism slot in the rear diffusers which four teams – Mercedes GP, McLaren, Renault and Force India – have reportedly exploited. The starter mechanism hole isn’t drawn upto specifications and as such allowed for another weak point in the framed rules for the highly smart aerodynamicists at these Formula One teams to exploit.

The aforementioned teams had deployed an elliptical shape to the starter hole instead of the usual round one and thus the hole became another slot in the diffuser which allows for better passage of air and thus resulting in more downforce. The teams had been under scrutiny at the Bahrain GP and now have been advised to rectify this fault ahead of next week’s Australia Grand Prix.

It actually is amazing how much attention and hard work goes into exploiting such miniscule details and also underlines what a tough job the FIA faces. Last year it was another little hole in the same diffuser that caused a hell lot of problems. After much scrutiny the FIA realized they had indeed made a mistake not clarifying the rules and as such couldn’t outlaw it that late in the season. Every year, the teams take it onto themselves to present such challenges to the governing body – this year it is the McLaren rear wing that is the talk of the town – and combined with this particular infringement (although now rectified), it all just goes to show what a tough job the FIA has on their hands give the highly competitive standards of Formula One where so much is at stake at every single second.