McLaren Join Diffuser Protest

McLaren will appear before the FIA two times this month, as the International Court of Appeal have confirmed they will also hear the Woking based team on the diffuser design matter next Wednesday. Two weeks after the aforementioned appeal, the British outfit are to explain themselves before FIA's World Motor Sport Council on the Australian GP “lie gate”.

McLaren was not initially part of the rear diffuser contesters ahead of the Aussie race. Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Racing were the three teams forwarding an appeal to the international body on the designs used by the “diffuser gang” – Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota – with BMW Sauber joining the group last weekend.

The “diffuser three” are believed to benefit from an increased level of downforce on their 2009 challengers, thanks to some innovative – most teams claim they're illegal – rear diffuser design. It seems the most effective of those is the double-decker system put in place by Ross Brawn's team, which brings an additional 30% of downforce to the BGP 001, therefore improving car's cornering speed.

Until now, both the Australian and the Malaysian stewards have given the go-ahead to the aforementioned designs, but a final and irrevocable decision on the matter is to be released by the International Court of Appeal on April 14th.

McLaren are also to be heard on the lie-gate following the Aussie Grand Prix. However, their meeting will be with FIA's World Motor Sport Council, which is to decide whether further actions against the British team are to be taken following the lying scandal. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has already announced that the team could face a race ban if found guilty.