FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[EwanM]

Red Bull threatens Brawn GP protest

By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 24th 2009, 13:59 GMT


Red Bull Racing has said it will protest rival Brawn GP over the design of its diffuser if the team's current design passes scrutineering at Melbourne on Thursday.

Questions over the design of the diffusers have surfaced since Williams and Toyota appeared to exploit the wording of the regulations to allow themselves a taller design than the rules originally intended.

But the debate has stepped up a gear after Brawn GP's new car, which features a unique twin-deck concept, has dominated pre-season testing times.

With the matter still not settled, and talk of a possible protest having surfaced in recent days, Red Bull's advisor Helmut Marko has now confirmed his team will object to the design if it is unchanged and given the all-clear by scrutineers.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the design of the Brawn diffuser, Marko said: "It's illegal: we'll make a protest on Thursday if the component isn't modified to conform to the regulations, because that diffuser guarantees a five-tenths-advantage per lap. Seven teams are certain it's illegal."

FIA president Max Mosley revealed earlier this week that he expected the matter to reach a head in Australia, having received complaints from at least one team about the diffuser design.

"If there had been more time before the detailed objections to the system were sent in, I would probably have sent it to the FIA Court of Appeal before Australia," Mosley told the Daily Telegraph.

"And actually I have given thought to that this week. But there isn't time. It wouldn't be fair. I think the thing will probably come to some sort of a head in Australia."

As AUTOSPORT's technical analysis of the BGP001 car revealed earlier this month, the diffuser is a unique double-decker design where the U-shaped centre section becomes the lower deck of the set-up, rather than the roof.

Brawn GP was unavailable for comment on Tuesday night in Melbourne, but Rubens Barrichello told Gazzetta dello Sport that he was unmoved by the controversy about the team's diffuser.

"I wasn't bothered by the fact that everyone took for granted that [Bruno] Senna was replacing me, so do you think I'm bothered by the fact that my car is different from the others?" he said.

"We've read the rule book differently, and the result of that can be seen by everyone."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73876
Sadly this was always going to happen. So much for the coercion of FOTA. Mosley and co must be laughing themselves silly. Hopefully these protests are abandoned.

[Jabberwocky]

It is like Goliath complaining that David has a slingshot. Oh well Goliath you would not be complaining if you had thought about it

[Gert]

Ie that Brawn, Williams & Toyota have done this with FOTA's approval to make the FIA look stupid.

[Dutchcruijff]

Interestingly enough, according to Helmut, Renault and RBR had similar ideas but but were rejected by the FIA.


"He claims both Renault and Red Bull discussed the legality of a similar aerodynamic concept with the FIA early last year and "at that time there was a negative answer". "

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the design of the Brawn diffuser, Marko said: "It's illegal: we'll make a protest on Thursday if the component isn't modified to conform to the regulations, because that diffuser guarantees a five-tenths-advantage per lap. Seven teams are certain it's illegal."

http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/mo ... =1&catid=1

(The report looks a bit "dodgy" but F1 Live have also reported a similar story).

[Jensonb]

Interestingly enough, according to Helmut, Renault and RBR had similar ideas but but were rejected by the FIA.


"He claims both Renault and Red Bull discussed the legality of a similar aerodynamic concept with the FIA early last year and "at that time there was a negative answer". "

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about the design of the Brawn diffuser, Marko said: "It's illegal: we'll make a protest on Thursday if the component isn't modified to conform to the regulations, because that diffuser guarantees a five-tenths-advantage per lap. Seven teams are certain it's illegal."

http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/mo ... =1&catid=1

(The report looks a bit "dodgy" but F1 Live have also reported a similar story).

That's funny, because Sam Micheal claims the FiA gave them the all clear to go ahead over a year ago.

Smells fishy. Seems like the FiA was deliberately trying to cause a dispute even then.

[Denthúl]

Le sigh.

I hope that the stewards rule in favour of Brawn, Toyota and Williams. That'll piss some people off

I reckon one of the major reasons that Red Bull would want to press forward with such a protest is that they couldn't actually implement that diffuser on their car. It would be bad for their performance if it was ruled legal as every other team other than themselves and Toro Rosso could copy it.

[cap-dude]

It's kinda expected. Teams will do everything they can to gain an advantage over their competitors.

Whether or not the diffuser is illegal is another question. But if it isn't the other teams should simply jump onboard and gain themselves half a second. I doubt that this will come to anything serious.

[Denthúl]

It's kinda expected. Teams will do everything they can to gain an advantage over their competitors.

Whether or not the diffuser is illegal is another question. But if it isn't the other teams should simply jump onboard and gain themselves half a second. I doubt that this will come to anything serious.

Mm hmm. It's interesting that the chap mentions that the diffuser is worth roughly half a second per lap - surely that would still put Brawn around the top of the pack? And I'm sure that Brawn and his technical team could claw back some of that lost time with a redesigned diffuser, so it could still work out for them, I guess. [/hopeful]

[Dutchcruijff]

What's the bet that the decision gets deferred and the cars are still allowed to race pending an outcome. I can feel a new F1 melodrama being stage managed.

[Denthúl]

What's the bet that the decision gets deferred and the cars are still allowed to race pending an outcome. I can feel a new F1 melodrama being stage managed.

If that happens, they could still race it in Malaysia whilst appealing against the decision, I think. If their appeal is successful, they don't lose out on any performance in between. Of course, if it isn't, they lose two race results rather than one.

[7UpJordan]

I find it odd that Red Bull are only protesting the Brawn diffuser when Williams and Toyota have both shown greater pace than Red Bull in testing.

[Jabberwocky]

perhaps they have had the green light, but the Brawn design is different

[Jamie]

Ohhhh stop bitching and get on with it? we have 4days left
gosh? someone feels a little insecure i feel? awww bless the lil girls

-VB

[Rivelution]

Why dont teams make there own diffuser instead of sitting back and complaining?

[Denthúl]

Why dont teams make there own diffuser instead of sitting back and complaining?

Not all of them can adapt the design to suit their car.