YESTERDAY’S decision that the Brawn GP car which has won the first two races of the Formula One season was in accordance with the rules was the only sensible decision

Which did not, of course, rule out the sport’s governing body, the FIA from deciding otherwise.

The dispute over whether the diffusers on the cars of the Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams cars were legal should never have been allowed to overshadow the start of the season.

It is merely the latest sideshow that has distracted from the action on the racetrack which has, thanks to the emergence of Brawn GP and the problems at McLaren, been more entertaining than usual. Teams will now scramble to incorporate similar designs into their car, adding more cost to cash-strapped budgets, as they try to close the gap on championship leader Jenson Button.

But the infighting and politicking has unnecessarily undermined the opening of the 2009 season and it might already be too late to prevent it being yet another controversial year of racing.

The sport is in desperate need of new processes and new leadership – it must add some brains to its Brawn.