JENSON BUTTON has two races to make the most of his clear advantage in his pursuit of this year’s Formula One world title.

Button and Brawn GP were yesterday given the go-ahead to maintain their championship charge after the team’s car was ruled to be legal.

The FIA’s International Court of Appeal confirmed the design of the controversial double-decker diffuser employed by Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams did not contravene the technical regulations.

The diffuser ensures a smooth flow of air under the car to create more downforce.

The ruling means Button’s wins in the season-opening races in Australia and Malaysia stand – along with the 15 points so far collected.

The 29-year-old is now a clear favourite to make it a hat-trick of victories in this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, and potentially in Bahrain seven days later.

Beyond then, though, Button can steel himself for a counterattack from the seven teams left counting the cost of yesterday’s decision.

Given the back-to-back nature of the forthcoming races, it is too early to expect an immediate response from the aggrieved parties.

Renault, however, announced during the eighthour hearing in Paris they have a prototype ready to be installed that could be used in Shanghai.

For the remaining teams, the likelihood is they will have their own diffusers operating by the time the European season begins in earnest on May 10 in Barcelona.

While Brawn will not stand still themselves, given the resources available to Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber, their rate of development in the wake of the ruling will be significant.

At present, of last year’s top four, only reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has a point to his name, with Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica sitting on zero.

Button knows he needs to stretch his championship lead in China and Bahrain as he is fully expecting his rivals to make inroads.

“I am understandably delighted with how our season has begun,” said Button.

“However, we are only two races in and everyone at the team is aware our competitors will not stand still.

“We fully expect a tough fight from here if we want to continue our early successes.”

But just how quickly Ferrari can get up to speed remains to be seen.

The team is going through its worst start to a season since 1992 and now faces radically revamping the car to accommodate its own diffuser design.

It has been estimated the diffuser has so far been worth up to half a second per lap.

Whether the decision has already decided the championship, a view expressed by two former world champions in Raikkonen and Renault’s Fernando Alonso, is unlikely.

But certainly Brawn GP have the edge following a victory for technical innovation, as fervently espoused by Brawn during the case at the FIA’s headquarters.

Brawn, who stood firm in the face of cross-examination by Ferrari’s renowned lawyer, Nigel Tozzi QC, naturally feels justice has been served.

He said: “We respect the right of our competitors to query any design or concept used on our cars through the channels available to them.

“The FIA technical department, the stewards at the Australian and Malaysian Grand Prix and now five judges at the ICA have confirmed our belief that our cars have always strictly complied with the 2009 technical regulations.

The decision of the ICA brings this matter to its conclusion and we look forward to continuing on the track the challenge of what has been a very exciting start to the world championship.”

Brawn’s words were echoed by Toyota boss Tadashi Yamashina as he also felt vindicated following the ruling.

“I was confident the Court of Appeal would reach this verdict and I am satisfied with it,” said Yamashina.

“This has been a challenging period for Formula One and I am pleased this issue is now in the past and we can focus on an exciting season on the track.”