Red Bull to Protest Brawn GP Rear Diffuser Design

Brawn GP's 001 incredible pace during the last couple of testing sessions certainly raised some eyebrows within the technical departments of all F1 teams. Being that the Brackley-based team managed to build a car that proved quicker than most 2009 challengers present at Barcelona and Jerez the past weeks made everyone examine the new BGP 001 closely.

And the element everyone thinks to agree is behind the car's outstanding on-track performances is the rear diffuser design. Despite FIA's race director Charlie Whiting's approval of all rear diffuser designs ahead of the Aussie GP – as he proceeded to checking them closely in Barcelona, during the penultimate group test of the offseason – Red Bull Racing have announced they will protest Brawn GP's design this weekend.

As revealed earlier this month – including by autoevolution.com – BGP 001's rear diffuser design features a twin-deck concept, aimed to induce greater downforce and “suck” the car downwards (therefore improving cornering speed and stability).

In an interview for Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, RBR's advisor Helmut Marko insisted his team will protest to the use of the aforementioned design during the season opener at Albert Park, should the Brawn GP 001 make it pass the Thursday scrutineering.

“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,” said Marko, according to the Italian publication.

Marko is certainly not alone in his attempt to “ban” the controversial rear diffuser systems – Williams and Toyota have also used innovative designs for their rear diffusers ahead of the 2009 season – as Renault's Flavio Briatore urged the FIA to look into the matter more seriously during the past weeks.