Diffusers are legal, FIA decides

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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The FIA's International Court of Appeal ruled that the rear diffusers are legal and "comply with the applicable regulations." It rejected an appeal by four teams against the technology, which channels the flow of air from the front to rear and helps create greater downforce through corners, the Associated Press reported.

The decision was a victory for diffuser users Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams. The part which has caused such controversy and helped Button to wins in Australia and Malaysia is fitted to the rear part of the floor of the car, between the wheels and under the rear wing. Its purpose is to improve the car's aerodynamics.

With the new regulations in place this season the diffuser was supposed to get smaller, but Brawn, along with Toyota and Williams, are actually using bigger ones, Agence France-Presse reported. The three teams spotted a loophole in the new laws, and their innovative interpretation of the 2009 regulations is paying handsome dividends.

The Ferrari-led protest against the three teams argued that their diffusers' split-level design flouted a rule that states the diffuser must have an upper edge that runs in a horizontal straight line.

The split-level design generates more downward thrust at the rear of the car which increases the car's speed by around 0.5seconds a lap.

Teams will keep the points

The ruling means the teams will keep the points they won in the first two races. Button has 15 points, five more than teammate Rubens Barrichello. Toyota pair Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock are next. Brawn GP is the first new outfit to win its opening two races since Alfa Romeo in the inaugural F1 season in 1950.Ross Brawn said he was "pleased" with the ruling, which he said "brings this matter to its conclusion."

"We respect the right of our competitors to query any design or concept used on our cars through the channels available to them," he said in a statement.

The verdict was a defeat for rivals Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull Racing and BMW Sauber - and could force them to redesign their cars to help close the gap. The next race is this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Ferrari and the three others had filed appeals with the FIA, questioning the stewards' decision in Australia and Malaysia to allow Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams to race with rear diffusers. The rival teams argued the diffusers could breach new aerodynamic regulations. "Based on the arguments heard and evidence before it, the Court has concluded that the stewards were correct to find that the cars in question comply with the applicable regulations," the brief FIA statement said.