Race stewards at Sepang have said that they are unable to deal with the protest lodged by Spyker against Toro Rosso, claiming that since the matter has already gone to arbitration it should be dealt sole by the courts.

Following last week's move, when Spyker went to arbitration regarding both toro Rosso and Super Aguri, it was widely assumed that we'd seen the end of the customer car row, at least for now. Then came yesterday's protest.

Speaking to Pitpass late on Thursday evening, an FIA source admitted that it was unclear where the matter was heading since the issue was subject to arbitration anyway. Therefore, this morning's decision doesn't come as too much of a surprise.

A statement issued by the FIA at Sepang this morning reads:

"Spyker have made an application for arbitration and must by definition therefore be deemed to accept that a dispute such as this (the grounds of the protest being effectively the same as that matter to be determined in arbitration) does not fall within the range of disputes to be settled under the FIA 2007 Formula One Sporting Code.

"It is considered therefore that it would be entirely inappropriate for the Stewards to involve themselves in a matter being dealt with at the instigation and election of the Protestor, Spyker, in an entirely different forum.

"It follows, that this Protest is inadmissible and the Protest fee is accordingly returned."

Spyker had intended protesting in Melbourne but missed the deadline - whereby teams have to lodge any protests within two hours of scrutineering.