Ferrari and Red Bull Sidepods Under FIA Investigation

Both Ferrari and Red Bull Racing are to be subject to an official check by FIA's Technical Working Group following concerns raised by Williams F1 Team regarding their 2009 aerodynamic package. The Grove based team addressed the TWG shortly before the Australian Grand Prix about the matter but ultimately decided to drop a potential protest “in the interests of the sport”.

Williams' technical head Sam Michael argued that the two aforementioned teams are currently using a different design as specified in the FIA rule book regarding their sidepod aerodynamics. However, with plenty of scandals arising before the Aussie race – the diffuser-related one being the most obvious – Williams tried not to make such a big fuss about it.

However, they did urge the TWG to look into the matter and conduct further checks in order to clarify the matter.

“We are looking at the potential implications of it, although as we said, we believe it was in the interests of the sport to withdraw the protest. We will leave it now for the FIA and the TWG to decide what to do. The FIA will deal with it,” said Michael after the season opener.

As announced by a report from German publication Motorsport Aktuell, it seems the TWG will discuss the matter in a meeting scheduled later today. Nevertheless, it's possible that the aerodynamic features to be given the go-ahead by the FIA body, considering the fact that most teams have copied it in the meantime.

Williams are themselves waiting for a FIA response concerning the use of a different rear diffuser design, as the team is part of the “diffuser gang” looked upon as illegal by the rest of the F1 teams. FIA's International Court of Appeal will announce an irrevocable decision on the diffuser saga on April 14th.