F1 TEAMS GIVEN MELBOURNE GO-AHEAD

Rivals claim the rear diffuser of three cars, including this Williams, are illegal

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne Dates: 27-29 March Coverage: Comprehensive live coverage of Friday's practice sessions, Saturday's qualifying sessions and Sunday's race across BBC TV, radio and online. Find complete listings here

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Motorsport's governing body has rejected the protest made by three Formula 1 teams about the legality of certain cars.

With F1 just days away from the start of the new season in Australia, the FIA has ruled that the cars of Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams are all legal.

Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Renault claimed a crucial part at the back of the car does not conform to new F1 regulations.

The protesting teams have appealed and this will be heard after 5 April.

The initial verdict was delivered after a six-hour hearing with the stewards presiding over Sunday's Australian Grand Prix rejecting the complaint.

An appeal was lodged and this will be heard following next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Jenson Button insisted the Brawn GP cars were "100% legal".

"We're at the pinnacle of motorsport and you've got a lot of manufacturers and teams that want to be the best," he said.

"With the massive rule change that we've had, some people aren't going to like certain things on certain cars.

"They might think they are wrong but as far was we know our car is 100% legal. We've just built a very competitive car. That's it really."

Should any of the six drivers racing for Toyota, Williams or Brawn GP finish in the top eight in either Sunday's race or a week later in Sepang, their points scored would be held under appeal.

WHAT IS A DIFFUSER? It is the rear part of the floor of the car between the rear wheels and under the rear wing It is crucial to the aerodynamics, and small changes can have a big impact on downforce - and therefore grip and speed

All three cars are expected to be close to the front in the Grand Prix - and Brawn are widely tipped to have the fastest car on the grid.

And Button has been installed by bookmakers as favourite to win.

Renault engineering director Pat Symonds told BBC Sport that teams had been expressing their concerns on the issue to the FIA for "a number of weeks".

The part in question is the rear diffuser on the Brawn, Williams and Toyota cars, the rear part of the floor of the car between the rear wheels and under the rear wing.

It is crucial to the aerodynamics of the car, and small changes can have a big impact on the amount of downforce - and therefore grip and speed - the car can produce.

Rivals believe the controversial diffusers create more downforce and give a lap-time benefit of as much as 0.5 seconds.

They say the diffusers in question contravene a rule that demands that the diffuser has an upper edge that runs in a horizontal straight line.

They also believe that the parts go against the aim of a huge raft of new rules that were introduced this year in an attempt to make it easier to overtake.

One of the main aims was to reduce the amount of air turbulence generated by the cars so drivers find it easier to follow closely behind.

Button's car is the subject of a protest appeal by rivals

BBC Sport understands Toyota, expecting a row in Melbourne, brought an alternative diffuser to the race and they could have raced with that.

However, asked if his team had a contingency plan if the diffuser had been declared illegal, Toyota Motorsport president John Howett replied: "No, because I don't think we need one."

He added: "In motor racing anybody is allowed to protest and I don't have an issue with that. But we've studied the regulations in detail, and we're very confident we have interpreted them correctly.

"We used the consultation process with the FIA technical department and we are satisfied that they verified our interpretation.

"We will just now wait to see what the stewards, or subsequent court, may decide."

Brawn and Williams have no option but to race with their existing diffuser.

If Brawn, Toyota and Williams eventually have their cars passed legal after the appeal, then their rivals will be forced to design similar parts themselves.

F1 Mole's Blog Toyota have taken a few different diffusers to Australia just in case they are forced to change it F1 Mole

This would be a particularly troubling situation for Red Bull, whose car has been designed with a rear suspension system that makes it impossible to build a similar diffuser.

Red Bull's rear suspension operates a unique pull-rod system - where the arms pull down on the dampers, as opposed to the push-rods used by all other teams - which would require a major redesign if it was to be changed to incorporate a diffuser such as that used by Brawn, Williams and Toyota.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the row would not threaten the political unity the teams have been showing in their disputes with the FIA over the future of F1.

"This is a sporting and competitive issue, it has nothing to do with the workings of Fota (the F1 Teams' Association)," Horner said.

"It's nothing personal against the teams, it's simply looking to clarify regulations - our interpretations and [those of] others have been different.

"Our purpose in all of this is to establish the clarity of the regulation, because it has significant impact on how we channel our development."

BBC SPORTS REPORT.