FIA Rule On Diffuser Appeal

Press Release:

International Court of Appeal - Decision 15/04/2009

The FIA International Court of Appeal has decided to deny the appeals submitted against decisions numbered 16 to 24 taken by the Panel of the Stewards on 26 March at the 2009 Grand Prix of Australia and counting towards the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Based on the arguments heard and evidence before it, the Court has concluded that the Stewards were correct to find that the cars in question comply with the applicable regulations.

Full reasons for this decision will be provided in due course.

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... So that means the points stay with Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams, along with their diffuser. So now the other seven teams will all scramble to produce their own diffusers to make up for the .5 second a lap advantage Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams have got from their diffusers. All the teams will have them by the start of the European races. Apart from maybe Red Bull who will have to modify their car to be able to fit the new design of diffuser.
This is good news for Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams. As not only do they keep their points they will have a development edge on the others while they catch up. Brawn GP and Jenson Button must now be sitting pretty for the championship. Unless Ferrari can pull something out of the bag. BMW Sauber, Toyota, Red Bull and the rest seem too far away, especially Renault and McLaren.

It waits to be seen if any of the other seven teams will run the new diffusers at China this weekend. I suspect that some of the teams will have them ready to go as many people expected this outcome. Look for the teams with plenty of funding to perhaps bring them out straight away.