Mar.12 (GMM) Bob Bell has refused to rule out lodging a protest after the FIA cleared McLaren's controversial aerodynamic trick for the 2010 season.

Within minutes of the green light shining for opening practice at the Bahrain season opener on Friday morning, Renault's technical boss delivered a scathing verdict on what could become known as 'knee-gate'.

Asked about the monocoque air inlet that is triggered by the drivers' left knee on the MP4-25, Irishman Bell said the Woking based team had "driven a concourse through the spirit of the regulations".

He said it was a "joke" and "nonsense" that the FIA had green lighted the "completely illegal" innovation, which will now spark an "arms race" within pitlane.

When asked by BBC radio if Renault will submit an official protest, an angry Bell answered: "I honestly couldn't comment on that, to be honest."

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