Fia Rules That Brawn GP Diffuser Is Legal

Motorsport governing body the FIA has ruled in favour of the F1 cars on the grid, including world championship leaders Brawn GP, currently using the split-level diffuser by stating that the design of the part is legal.

An appeal panel heard eight hours of strongly worded evidence after complaints from rival teams that Brawn, Toyota and Williams, use an illegal diffuser.

Following the inquiry, five International Court of Appeal judges said the designs ‘comply with the applicable regulations’.

The row broke out when Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull protested against the legality of the split-level diffusers on the eve of the season-opening grand prix in Australia, but race stewards in Melbourne rejected their claims.

BMW Sauber then had a similar protest rejected at the Malaysian Grand Prix while McLaren have recently added their weight to the official protest.

The protesting teams say the split-level design contravenes a rule that states the diffuser – an aerodynamic body part which aids performance – must have an upper edge that runs in a horizontal straight line.

They also believe the design is negating the main aim of this season’s new rule changes, which is to make overtaking easier.

The split-level diffusers generate more downforce at the rear of the car, resulting in a clear performance advantage of around 0.5 seconds per lap.

With the FIA’s ruling, the seven teams who are running without the split-level diffusers are expected to try to incorporate the design into their cars as soon as possible.

Setting about such a radical redesign with the season under way will not be easy and will prove highly expensive at a time when all F1 teams are suffering as a result of the economic downturn and the sport is looking at cost-cutting measures across the board.

The judges in Paris heard evidence from both sides, with Ferrari’s legal representative, Nigel Tozzi QC, describing Brawn GP team boss Ross Brawn as ‘a person of supreme arrogance’.

Brawn defended himself robustly and insisted his team’s diffuser was simply ‘an innovative approach of an existing idea’.

Brawn’s criticism of Ferrari consultant Rory Bryne and Red Bull technical guru Adrian Newey prompted a courtroom spat, with the Englishman refusing to retract his statements.

FIA technical director Charlie Whiting was also taken to task by the judges, with accusations that his organisation are ‘getting it wrong, and not understanding the point’.