'Illegal' bodywork appeal rejected by F1 chiefs

Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull had their protests over what they claimed was illegal bodywork on the cars of rivals Williams, Toyota and Brawn rejected by the FIA here on Thursday.

Motorsport's governing body ruled that the three teams' cars were all legal and could line up in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The protesting teams now have until 1400 GMT to appeal against the ruling.

They had claimed the diffusers which , Toyota and Brawn had put on the underbody of the cars to make them more aerodynamic were contrary to the rules.

Before the FIA's ruling Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "This is a sporting and competitive issue, it's nothing personal against the teams."

"It's illegal," Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko said on Wednesday ahead of his team's official protest.

"That diffuser guarantees a five-tenths (of a second) advantage per lap."

The controversy surfaced in pre-season testing and intensified when the new Brawn GP cars proved fastest, with Brawn driver Jenson picked as this weekend's favourite even though he has won just once in 153 Formula One races.

The 29-year-old Briton tried to steer clear of the controversy Thursday.

"It's not something that I have any control over personally and the best person to speak to about that is Ross (Brawn)," he said.