FIA revise rules to avoid Alonso uproar repeat.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting has written to all eleven Formula One teams outlining a revision of the blocking rules in light of the controversy surrounding the decision to demote Fernando Alonso five places on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix.

The championship leader was dropped from fifth to tenth at Monza after he was judged to have impeded Felipe Massa in qualifying, albeit unintentionally, and was therefore punished accordingly, angering Alonso and Renault, as well as many of their rivals.

Indeed, Renault boss Flavio Briatorie has been vocal about the situation and the advantage it gave Ferrari over the weekend, particularly after Alonso, who admitted he did consider not racing in protest, was eventually forced out by an engine failure, reportedly brought on by the fact he was having to push harder than usual.

With slurs of 'fixing' and general confusion over the final details of blocking, the FIA have moved to re-word the rules to penalise a driver according to whether they deliberately block another counterpart.

"Only in cases where it appears to race control that there has been a clear and deliberate attempt to impede another driver will the stewards be asked to intervene," Whiting wrote, according to the BBC.

Blocking has proved to be a controversial matter this season, particularly with the new qualifying system that has inevitably led to increases in traffic and therefore complaints. Things were expected to be made easier by having a single steward throughout the season, although course officials still provide input.

Nonetheless, despite the general lambasting they received from the majority of the grid, the FIA continues to frown upon claims that they have been aiding Ferrari's cause this year, with Whiting suggesting that Renault should witness their evidence before exerting a media fuelled opinion.

"We now feel it is pointless for the stewards to engage in long and painstaking enquiries if competitors ignore clear scientific evidence and instead abuse the regulator," referring to the reigning champions.