The news broke early this morning via a press release from the FIA, the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de l’Automobile: Brawn GP, Williams, and Toyota have been disqualified from the 2009 Australian Grand Prix due to illegal diffusers.<\/p>\n
The controversy was gradually swelling in the microcosm of Formula 1. Some teams were using a special diffuser on their cars, which allowed for better downforce performance at the rear of the vehicle. This ‘miracle’ diffuser was deemed illegal by teams that did not have it. The Australian stewards had analyzed the device before the GP and had, however, legalized its use.<\/p>\n
According to Renault, McLaren and Ferrari in particular, the diffuser does not comply with the regulations, which are quite vague on the subject. These teams have therefore appealed the FIA’s decision after the qualifications and the judgment was to be delivered on April 14th.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, as this decision now seems to favor teams without a miracle broadcaster, the FIA has demoted any team using it. This was the case for Brawn GP, Williams, and Toyota. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) thus wins the Grand Prix, ahead of Fernando Alonso (Renault) and S\u00e9bastien Buemi, who makes it to the podium in his first F1 Grand Prix. His teammate at Toro Rosso, S\u00e9bastien Bourdais, takes 4th place.<\/p>\n
\u00ab After thorough analyses and measurements of the diffusers used by the Brawn GP, Toyota, and Williams teams, the FIA has decided to provisionally disqualify them. The sanction is pending review during the council meeting exceptionally organized for April 14th. Meanwhile, the concerned teams are asked to replace their diffuser. \u00bb The FIA statement specifies.<\/p>\n
This decision therefore strongly questions their performances during the Malaysian GP this Sunday. It is even now certain that the FIA will favor traditional broadcasters during its Appeal.<\/p>\n
Some teams had thus begun developing ‘miracle’ diffusers and will have to stop. A new statement should be available later in the day. In the meantime, happy April 1st, 2009.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The news broke early this morning via a press release from the FIA, the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de l’Automobile: Brawn GP, Williams, and Toyota have been disqualified from the 2009 Australian Grand Prix due to illegal diffusers. The controversy was gradually swelling in the microcosm of Formula 1. Some teams were using a special diffuser on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":42899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,1749],"tags":[370,446,958],"class_list":["post-24844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","category-news","tag-fia","tag-grand-prix","tag-melbourne"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n