Grapevine: Williams Deny Rule Bending Accusations

The Williams team dismissed doubts on Wednesday about their interpretation of Formula One's technical regulations.

"We've been running within the regulations up to and including Barcelona and we will continue to do so from Austria onwards," said Williams technical director Patrick Head.

Britain's weekly Motorsport News reported that Williams might have to modify the rear of their car before the next race in Austria on May 13. It said that the diffuser, the bodywork at the rear end of the floor of the car which is crucial to generating downforce, had been found to have dimensions that were legal but "against the spirit" of the rules.

The publication said rival teams were thought to have complained to the FIA, who could issue a rule clarification. The website of Autosport magazine quoted an unnamed leading technical figure from a rival team as saying that "Williams' interpretation of the regulations is to the word of the rules but not necessarily to the spirit."

FIA spokesman Francesco Longanesi told Reuters that he did not know of any official protest concerning Williams, who won the San Marino Grand Prix with Germany's Ralf Schumacher last month.

That victory was the first since 1997 for the BMW-powered team who this season have become genuine rivals to world champions Ferrari and McLaren.