New boys Brawn GP have had their first taste of Formula One politics on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix as three teams launched action against them, saying their car is illegal.
But the Brawn cars, along with the Williams and Toyota teams, have been cleared to race in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park this weekend after stewards dismissed protests over the legality of their bodywork.
The Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault teams had all separately protested the legality of all three teams' cars, specifically in regard to the diffusers which are a critical part of the rear bodywork of any Formula 1 car.
After an evening of hearings by a panel of stewards they found that the cars in question complied with the appropriate 2009 Formula One Technical Regulations and rejected the protest.
The teams which lodged the protests have each exercised their right to appeal the stewards' decision.
Those appeals will now go to the FIA's Court of Appeal in Paris at a date expected to be after the second round of the 2009 Formula One world Championship, the Malaysian Grand Prix on April 5.
