If the design of the 2009 Brawn car does not change, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello could win every race this season.That is the suggestion of double world champion Fernando Alonso, whose Renault crossed the finish line sixth in Sunday's season opening Australian grand prix.
The Mercedes-powered BGP001 car - and also the Toyota and Williams - is the subject of high controversy, with many teams questioning the legality of its so-called 'double diffuser' at the rear.
The piece is the subject of a hearing on April 14 of the International Court of Appeal.
"They (Brawn) are on another level to everybody else," Spaniard Alonso told his native country's AS sports newspaper. "They're running rings around us because they are playing in another division. If the Court does nothing on April 14, you can assume that they will win 17 races."
It was rumoured that McLaren might be set to join or actively support the appeal, but Mercedes' Norbert Haug told Germany's SID news agency that the team instead needs to put all its energy into making the MP4-24 more competitive.
But he said: "We agree totally with the protesting teams that a wrong interpretation of the regulations has been done."
Haug pointed out, however, that only four per cent of cases before the Court of Appeal succeed.
Former triple world champion Niki Lauda said it is simplistic to put the speed of the Brawn car entirely down to its diffuser. "It has many precise, innovative and detailed solutions that altogether makes the car very strong," the Austrian told Germany's Sport Bild.
"To say that the diffuser alone is the secret is complete rubbish," he added. "That's a cheap excuse. The fact is, Ross Brawn has simply done the best job."
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