The FIA has changed the way in which it will check tyre pressures ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, in a bid to halt any teams that might be using 'trick systems' to get around the minimum tyre pressures imposed by Pirelli.
It's believed a number of teams have found ways to artifically raise the tyre pressure when the FIA conducts its checks on the grid, by heating the 'cake tin' which surrounds the brake system. Once this system is removed before the lights go out, the pressures then fall below the limit.
In a note sent to teams on Friday morning, the FIA's Charlie Whiting has confirmed that tyre pressures will now be taken before wheels are fitted to the cars, starting at this weekend's race in Austria.
The change will force teams to comply with the limits imposed by Pirelli.
It could also lead to Pirelli lowering the minimum tyre pressures in future, as the Italian supplier has had to take into account those teams that are artificially lowering them, and therefore put in place higher than usual limits for safety reasons.
