HRT out of Australian Formula One GP

HRT failed in a bid to take part in Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, race stewards confirmed just hours before the event, as rumours of a technical row simmered at Albert Park. The Madrid-based team did not qualify on Saturday evening when Spanish veteran Pedro de la Rosa and Indian Narain Karthikeyan clocked times that were more than 107 percent off the pole time set by Briton Lewis Hamilton. Their late-night appeal to have the rule overturned was rejected. In a statement, race stewards said: "The stewards, having considered all relevant material, decided not to allow both cars to take part in the race in accordance with Article 36.1 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations." It means struggling HRT will miss the opening race of the season for the second year in succession. An obviously disappointed Karthikeyan said that his car's DRS was not working. "It is worth about nine-tenths," he said of the faulty Drag Reduction System. "And it meant that the power steering was virtually non-existent." He added a warning for next weekend's race. "I think it's going to be damn hard in Malaysia," he said. "It's going to be a lot hotter and we have cooling problems already, so it's going to be very hard." As HRT licked their wounds, many paddock observers were drawn into talk of a possible protest by Lotus or another team against Mercedes' use of a device that boosts their cars' speed. It is believed that Mercedes may have found a way to divert air from the rear wing back to the front wing -- to reduce the downforce and cut the amount of drag. Lotus and Red Bull team staff spoke to FIA race director Charlie Whiting on Saturday to point out what they believed was happening but there has been no further action from either side. Whiting had approved the alleged system following an inspection on Wednesday. McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh, whose drivers locked out the front row of the grid with Briton Jenson Button qualifying second behind compatriot Hamilton, said he thought the system was legal. Mercedes boss Ross Brawn said: "Obviously we kept the FIA informed about what we were doing. They physically checked the system on Wednesday. They were completely happy about it. Other teams aren't quite so happy and are seeking clarification. "Obviously if there is clarification to the point that the FIA aren't happy with it, we'll change our position. If the FIA are happy with it, we'll continue to use it. We're happy with it." Hamilton dominated qualifying for McLaren ahead of Button with surprise package Frenchman Romain Grosjean taking third place for Lotus ahead of German Michael Schumacher of Mercedes. Australian Mark Webber qualified fifth ahead of his Red Bull team-mate, the defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel.