Sauber runs no third car

The new 2004 regulations allow any team which finished outside the top four in the constructors championship to run a third car on Friday, in part to make up for the lack of the 'Heathrow' testing agreement which allowed the poorer teams to elect for two hours of Friday free practice in return for a limitation on private test days.

Those teams which did finish in the top four - Ferrari, Williams, McLaren and Renault - expressed concern that a third car would mean a big advantage, especially under the new one-engine-per-weekend rules, because it would allow unlimited mileage and valuable tyre data without stressing a race engine.

It was for this reason that they insisted on a rule banning experienced drivers (no driver who has competed in six or more grands prix in the last two years may drive a team's third car on Friday).

It was feared, however, that Ferrari would go against the spirit of the new rules by allowing test driver Luca Badoer to guest for Sauber on Friday, thereby collecting valuable Bridgestone tyre feedback. This suspicion was amplified when the new Sauber appeared so similar to last year's Ferrari and Jean Todt admitted that it was a possibility that Badoer could be used.

In Melbourne, however, Peter Sauber said: "At the moment a third driver makes no sense. We don't have the infrastructure to drive with three cars properly." But he added: "If we do go with a third driver it will be someone with experience and circuit knowledge. Badoer, for example..."