From GMM

Following a recent visit to the Barcelona test garages, FIA's technical director Charlie Whiting inspected controversial technical features on some Formula 1 cars.

Subsequently, the 30cm-high cockpit fairing fins on Williams' FW31 disappeared on safety grounds, and the much smaller fins on the 2009 BMW-Sauber are also believed to have been scrapped ahead of the 2009 season.

But it is understood that, while the rear diffusers of the Brawn, Toyota and Williams cars have been the most controversial of the pre-season, the teams have not been asked to change those designs.

"They used a loophole (in the regulations) that was always there," the governing body's technical delegate Whiting is quoted as saying by Auto Motor und Sport.

"Additionally, we can understand that other teams have a different view," he added.

The threat of formal protests lodged by the teams' rivals in Australia thus remains. "I guarantee whoever wins the races in Melbourne will be told they are cheating, and it doesn't matter who it is," Bernie Ecclestone commented on Wednesday.

Williams' Sam Michael is surprised the other teams have not simply picked up the concept rather than complain about it. "It would be relatively simple to copy this solution," the Australian said.

"It surprises me that more teams have not done so up to now," he is quoted as saying by the German magazine.