Controversy awaits with Merc's 'super diffuser'

The diffuser war of 2009 could rear its head this season as Formula One awaits the rumoured introduction of Mercedes GP's new super diffuser.

Throughout the final week of pre-season testing, speculation was rife in the Barcelona paddock that Mercedes GP, headed up by Ross Brawn, would unveil a new diffuser design at the season-opening race in Bahrain, which could give them a healthy advantage over their rivals.

And although the team has confirmed that major upgrades are on the agenda, they have refused to confirm rumours of the diffuser.

"We have a new package for Bahrain and I hope that's going to make the difference," said Brawn while Nico Rosberg revealed that "the car will make a big step forward in Bahrain. It'll be almost like a new car, so everything might be completely different once we are there."

The team's refusal to acknowledge the diffuser - or test it at Barcelona - has some questioning whether the rumours have any substance to them.

"I do not know what Brawn (Mercedes GP) will have in Bahrain, but we'll see if it really is something new," Ferrari's Fernando Alonso told El Pais newspaper.

"For me, it is just a rumour, like many others. Like for the past year it has been said that Renault is going to leave Formula One."

But, if it's not just buzz and Mercedes GP do seize the advantage, there could be a repeat of last year's diffuser war as team's squabble about the grey areas in the Formula One regulations.

In fact, even Brawn admits there could be technical wars between the teams going into the new season.

"In the last months we have asked many things of (FIA race director) Charlie Whiting to know if they are permitted or not. Some equipment has been taken to the edge of the regulations and could have problems," admitted Brawn.

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