MELBOURNE - THE BMW-Sauber team said they will protest rivals Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams in a controversy that threatens to sour Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

'We will lodge a protest,' team principal Mario Theissen told reporters at the Albert Park circuit on Thursday.

Decision needed WHITMARSH said McLaren, the team of world champion Lewis Hamilton who are battling to get their own car up to speed after being off the pace in testing, also needed a clarification from the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA). 'We have an underdeveloped car, we do not have sufficient aerodynamic downforce and we'd like to focus on rectifying that situation as quick as we can,' said Whitmarsh. ... more

'We are preparing our protest and then we will see what happens.' The new Brawn GP team, who have been comfortably quickest in pre-season testing, and the other two teams have been using innovative but contentious rear diffusers - a key part that governs the quick and smooth flow of air under the car to increase downforce.

Rivals argue the cars are illegal in a dispute that has been simmering since pre-season testing.

'Sadly a lot of the column inches this weekend are going to be about controversy and it can easily become acrimonious,' said McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

'That's the way of Formula One, to sometimes stumble across into a very acrimonious environment. In defence of everyone, I don't think anyone has set out deliberately to cheat here.

'It's a shame that this sporting occasion is going to have that controversy thrust upon it over the course of the weekend.' -- REUTERS