McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh is hopeful a solution can be found to avoid the kind of controversy that has overshadowed the start of the new Formula One season.

The diffuser row that unfolded in Australia over the weekend is set to spill over into Malaysia throughout the course of the next few days.

Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull protested the diffuser - a key part of a car's aerodynamics - used by Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams after they were scrutineered.

The stewards at Melbourne's Albert Park threw out the protest, only for the three aggrieved teams to then launch an appeal that will be heard by the FIA's International Court of Appeal in Paris on April 14.

With the race in Sepang a new event, it is thought the three teams will protest again, and if that is rejected by a new triumvirate of stewards, to then appeal.

Should they be successful with their case, the independent judges due to preside over the matter, could then look at the results of both races should they choose to impose a penalty.

Four of the six cars using the questionable diffusers finished in the points on Sunday - initially five until Toyota's Jarno Trulli was handed a 25-second penalty after the race that demoted him from third to 12th.

The suggestion is the appeal will be rejected, and if so, it will come at a massive cost to the seven teams who will then be forced to play catch up.

Frustrated at the fact the matter was not fully resolved before Australia, Whitmarsh said: "We've all got to look at the process by which we arrived here.

"We ought to be celebrating the fantastic sport and fantastic contest we have, and the fact we're shrouded in this controversy is a shame for the sport.

"It's bad news really, whatever happens, and it's bad that we're spending time talking about it.

"If the appeal is upheld then it's bad for those teams that have gone this route, and if it isn't, then it's bad for the other seven teams as it's going to cost an awful lot of money to change their route.

"With the FIA and the teams we have to find a better way in the future to avoid these sorts of controversies."

Unsurprisingly, Williams technical director Sam Michael can see the other side of the coin, believing the path the teams have travelled to reach this point is the correct one.

"In the last month we've had three rulings from (FIA technical director) Charlie (Whiting) that have caused us to redesign our car," said Michael.

"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."