The Diffuser Controversy

Formula 1 has never been shy of controversies. It's part and parcel of this global, glamorous and expensive sport. With so much time and money invested, and with the ever-watchful eye of the media, the participants are ultra competitive, and ruthless in their desire to win.

The latest diffuser controversy is not a surprise. Ever since the 2009-spec cars hit the testing trail in early January, and the teams began looking at what others had done with their cars, concerns over certain designs began to emerge. Ferrari's exhaust design was one of them. Williams and Toyota's diffuser also got more than a fair share of attention. Ferrari were quick to react and updated their exhaust design, while Williams and Toyota remained adamant with their diffuser. The latter was because they were getting performance benefit out of it; Ferrari were getting very little and not big enough to pick a fight.

Things kicked into second gear when Brawn GP stole the show. The times were mesmerising. To borrow Massa's phrase, "they rose from the ashes" to lead the field. Amazing. How was this possible?

At the Aussie GP, Ferrari, Red Bull, BMW and Renault protested. Their protest was turned down and the diffusers ruled to be legal. As Renault team principal, Flavio Briatore explains, the diffuser design of Brawn, Williams and Toyota do not follow the "spirit" of the regulation, which is to reduce downforce. They are within the written regulations but intend to increase downforce that contradicts the spirit of Mosley's proposal. But in this ultra-competitive expensive sport where 0.1 seconds is too long, if teams other than Ferrari and McLaren innovate to win then why is it wrong?

The teams are going to appeal the race stewards' decision. If the appeal fails then, as Briatore admits, the others will be able to adopt the solution for the Barcelona GP. With 12 races remaining from that point on, the points deficit will be small enough for the others to catch up. It will make for exciting racing.

From an ordinary viewer's point of view: well I don't know what a diffuser is. The folks at f1technical.net have a few lines to explain it. All I know is that it's this thing at the back of the car that increases downforce and makes the car go faster. If Brawn, Williams and Toyota take the first corner at the Aussie race then it's not entirely a disaster. The rules were changed to shake up the grid, and they have done exactly that - the controversy is just the spice that Formula 1 never misses.