2014 Chinese Grand Prix Friday - Practice

Is Jenson Button satisfied with McLaren's form today?

"No, definitely not. There are a few things we can do overnight, but I'm not sure we're as competitive as the last race.

"But then in Bahrain we weren't that competitive on the long runs in FP2."

He cites front tyre graining as a worry, but also adds: "there are a lot of cars that seem out of place - some too fast, some too slow - so we'll have to see the picture tomorrow."

Today's FIA press conference on the subject of engines concludes with the topic of manufacturers being granted concessions in this first year of the new regulations.

Charlie Whiting is asked how the FIA can be sure that teams are not gaining performance when applying for engine changes on reliability grounds:

"We are confident that the changes we have allowed so far are purely for reliability reasons. When changes are made we circulate them to the other manufacturers, which gives them the opportunity to highlight any 'back door' treatment that could gain performance."

Honda's Arai is pushed on the Japanese firm's plans to supply customer teams as its stay in F1 develops beyond 2015:

"In 2015 McLaren is our only customer. I don't think about the future. We want to concentrate on next season - we want to get good results. If a team wants to use our engine [in the future] we can deliver that, but right now there are no plans."

Unsurprisingly for a press conference devoted to engines, the subject of noise has been brought up (by AUTOSPORT's Gary Anderson, no less).

The first meetings of a "consultancy process" to look into the issue of noise are taking place this afternoon in China, but the manufacturers are warning against expecting much of a change.

"I don't see the need to change the noise," says Cowell. "The reason the engine is quieter is the turbine wheel and the muffling effect you get from that. That's one of the key technologies for recycling waste energy, but perhaps there are other things we can do to help the noise."

White adds: "Tailpipe changes could be the way to go. The scope to fundamentally change the noise is limited by the type of technology we have deployed. Therefore we need to be realistic about the scope of any action we take. But we are sensitive to the subject and we will participate in any discussions, like those that are taking place today."

Ferrari's Pat Fry is asked if the Italian manufacturer has managed to get its engine down to the minimum weight limit, as there has been speculation since before pre-season testing that the Ferrari engine is overweight.

"We are fairly close to the weight limit," says Fry. "I'm sure everyone is struggling. It's quite a challenge, and we are just on that limit."

Renault has had a troubled start to these new engine regulations, but Rob White is full of support for the new rules.

"The main problem is that Mercedes has won more than we would like them to! I think the numbers involved were well-judged.

"The fuel limits play out more or less as was predicted, and there hasn't been an excessive amount of fuel saving that has damaged the show."

Sebastian Vettel

Here's Vettel's verdict on whether Red Bull is on Mercedes' heels this weekend - and it's a bit sceptical:

"Maybe they didn't run full beans today, so it's difficult to say. They are still the favourites and they are still quite far away.

"I was behind the Mercedes on the long run and it looked like they could do what they want.

"I think for us it was a good day but not yet at their level."

Whiting kicks things off in the press conference, reminding everyone of why such a significant change of engine regulations was necessary for F1's future:

"F1 should be at the forefront of technology. It was clear that the manufacturers were looking towards conservation, so we felt we had to go that way.

"To ignore that would have been rather silly and we would have lost manufacturers, and possibly deterred others from coming in."

Whiting adds that when the discussions on the new rules started four years ago, the original target was to make them 50 per cent more efficient than the old V8 units, but that number has ended up being around 35 per cent.

Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell adds that what has been achieved with the new rules still represents "a giant leap" for the sport.

Have Rosberg and Hamilton had the 'clear the air' chat about their Bahrain GP battle that the German suggested they would yesterday?

Well it's turning into a bit of a mystery. EDD STRAW is just back from the Mercedes drivers' post-session press scrums in which both men were asked if the meeting happened.

Hamilton replied: "No"...

...Rosberg replied: "Yeah, we sat down and went through everything. It's all behind us, so it's flat out full speed ahead."

Did Hamilton slip an imposter in to replace him? Has he forgotten the conversation? We'll have to try to find out...

Both Red Bulls ended today in the top five, 0.8s off Hamilton, but closer to Rosberg.

Daniel Ricciardo thinks Mercedes should be aware that Red Bull "is coming"... but there won't be any deposing going on this weekend.

"I would like to think we have caught up, but I think they have got a bit more in there.

"We are making small improvements. The gap is a big one so it is not going to come over one race, but I feel we have crept up a little bit more.

"It is still a big one but we are coming. Bit by bit we will get there, and hopefully before too long we will get close."

"Other cars are having similar problems to yours," says Vettel's engineer, in reference to the graining issue he is encountering.