Williams submitted protests against Ferrari and Red Bull

Hot on the heels of the news that Toyota had been excluded from the Australian Grand Prix qualifying session and moved to the back of the field for Sunday’s race, was news that Williams Toyota had filed a protest against both Red Bull Renault and Ferrari.

After hours of deliberation the team withdrew the protest ‘in the interests of the sport’ and the grid for the season-opening event is now finally set.

Williams had reportedly filed a protest against it rivals in relationship to the aerodynamics of the sidepods.

"The AT&T Williams team confirmed that following today’s qualifying session, it submitted protests against two competitor teams under the 2009 Technical Regulations," a statement from the Grove-based squad began.

"After further detailed consideration, Williams has withdrawn both protests in the interests of the sport. Williams recognises the possibility that in this area there could be more than one interpretation of the rules and therefore does not feel it appropriate to continue with the protests,” the team concluded.

After the drama of qualifying in which no less than six of the top ten runners could have been disqualified, the race proper gets underway late tomorrow afternoon in Melbourne.