Dennis unsure Ferrari's fairings are legal

Ferrari have refitted the rear wheel fairings to their cars at this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, leading to some question marks about their full legality.

The Italians were given the green light to fit the fairings by the FIA, but some believe these rim covers - whose official purpose is to aid cooling of the brakes - may also be viewed as movable aerodynamic devices.

However, rather than referring to the matter of aerodynamic regulations, Dennis believes the device could be in breach of the parc ferme rules, which forbid teams from replacing car parts during qualifying.

"It is not for us to judge," the McLaren chief said. "Up and down the pitlane there is some confusion over the fact, and I was told second hand that their primary purpose is to play an active role in the cooling of the brakes.

"But there is a regulation that says you are not allowed to change any aspect of the car during qualifying, so clearly when you are changing wheels you are changing an element of which is relevant to the brakes."

Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn yesterday expressed his confidence that the fairings are legal, and he emphasized that the team have kept the FIA informed of their innovation.

"If a team chooses to object [to our wheel fairings], there is a process to go through," Brawn said. "At least today, the FIA are happy with the system, and unless there is a different perspective that someone has about the devices, it should be OK."

However, Dennis made it clear today that his team would not be lodging any form of complaint with the FIA.

"It is not for us to challenge the legality," Dennis said. "There is a mechanism, but we have no intention of protesting the Ferrari 'dustbin lids'."