The FIA has issued the following statement following today's Japanese GP and subsequent claims from Ferrari with regards e-mail communications relating to the tyres to be used at the start of the race:

"A communication from the Stewards requiring all competitors to fit extreme wet-weather tyres for safety reasons was sent to all teams by email at 12:35 hrs local time today. Save for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, all competitors have confirmed that they received the email at 12:37 hrs.

It is understood that Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro did not receive the email at the same time as other competitors. As a result, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro was the only team which did not start on extreme wet-weather tyres.

The 2007 Formula One Sporting Regulations (Art. 15.1) state that in exceptional circumstances Stewards or Race Director may give instructions to Competitors by means of special circulars in accordance with the Code and these circulars will be distributed to all competitors who must acknowledge receipt.

At a meeting of the Formula One Sporting Working Group held in Monaco on 7th December 2006, all teams agreed to an electronic distribution system to ensure that all competitors received communications simultaneously, with no time advantage for a team by virtue of their location in the pit lane. This system has been used throughout the current championship year.

To avoid any recurrence of today's problem the agreed method of using electronic communications will continue to be used but in future will be backed up by the traditional method of written communication."