Michael backs FIA rules process

The build-up to the first race in Melbourne last week was overshadowed by a protest from Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Renault about the diffuser designs on the Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota cars.

Although some observers have been critical of the way the rules process did not avoid the matter only getting dealt with on the eve of the season, Michael thinks the FIA rules structure is actually the best way to sort out issues.

"The FIA process we've operated under ever since I've been in F1 is perfect in terms of how close you can get to perfect," said Michael, when asked by AUTOSPORT for his views on the rules structure.

"If there are humans involved in the process, you are never going to get everything right. But the person that has to make those judgements - the FIA technical delegate - he does the absolute best job he can do. He's very experienced. Things go against you and things go for you.

"In the last month, we've had three rulings from Charlie [Whiting] that have caused us to re-design our car and lose downforce because it went against us. But we didn't turn up in Melbourne and protest it. We accepted it because we all work in this industry and have to get on.

"You have to have some type of process, and the process is right. Don't get me wrong - there have been times I've walked out of Charlie's office and thought we've just lost big time on that. In some ways, that's also encouraging because he's impartial and tries to look at things as black and white as he can. Ultimately, the process is there, the stewards are there to cast a different decision to Charlie if necessary and so is the court of appeal. The process is correct and I've been a winner and a loser by it."

There is likelihood that the three diffuser teams will be protested again in Malaysia this weekend, even though the matter is already going to the FIA International Court of Appeal later this month.

Michael said he was surprised that rival teams had chosen to protest his team's diffuser design rather than copy it.

"When we developed our car over the winter we thought everyone would do it [have a diffuser] and maybe there would be one or two teams that don't do it.

"But we didn't think there would only be three that did. We thought it would be seven that did, three that didn't - not the other way around. We're quite surprised that more teams haven't done it."