Teams question new parc ferme system

After the final qualifying session, cars were returned to their pit garages, where they are kept under observation by appointed staff of the race organisers before being returned to a central parc ferme by 6pm to make sure that they are not worked on. The procedure is designed to ensure that the like of special qualifying engines cannot be used, as cars now have to start the race in the same configuration that they finished qualifying.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has already made his negative feelings known, but added in Australia: "I hope and believe that we are all an honourable bunch but we have a couple of people in our garage [the observers] whose normal occupations I could not tell you, but I'm sure that if we wanted to make some sort of double-shuffle, then I'm sure we could do."

Williams technical director Patrick Head added: "We've got a couple of nice Australians in our garage and we haven't given them tea with sennapods in or bunged them any brown envelopes, but there is plenty of potential."

Another unusual sight up and down the paddock early on Saturday evening was lots of contented groups of mechanics having barbecues. They, at least, seemed to be behind the new rules...