In a rare move, Charlie Whiting will participate in this Friday's technical press conference in Shanghai.

The FIA's Race Director and Safety Delegate will join engine men Andrew Cowell from Mercedes and Rob White (Renault), Ferrari's Pat Fry and Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's Chief Officer of Motorsports.

Whiting, whose last press conference was just ahead of the season opening Grand Prix in Melbourne, at which time he attempted to clarify the existing rules whilst introducing a few new ones, comes at a time when debate over the 2014 regulations still rages.

Such is Ferrari's desperation, the Maranello outfit, having made little impact with its poll, in which 83% of those that took part expressed the view that they don't like the 2014 regulations - which in turn corresponds with a Pitpass poll in which 81% of those that voted said the Italian team's unhappiness with the regulations was down to "sour grapes" - has taken to quoting the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, who, by amazing coincidence, is also unhappy with the new regulations.

"I speak on behalf of Italian sports people and fans, I don’t like this Formula 1 and in my opinion it’s delivered a product that has absolutely no sense," he declared. "In my opinion, it’s a form of self-harm. I hope the people who run the sport look again at the rules because the way Formula 1 is now, it has much less appeal and that’s a shame as it is an extraordinary world."

Ignoring the manner in which the original Olympic ideal has been wholly sacrificed in the name of mammon, as we await similar views from the presidents of the Austrian and French Olympic Committees, Whiting is also certain to be asked about reports that the sport could witness a return to active suspension in a bid to limit costs especially as it has been suggested that the system - like so many others these days - would be an FIA standard issue.

Other suggestions being put before the Strategy Group as the sport include further reducing the number of gearboxes available, simplification of the front wings (yawn), lengthening curfews and further reducing staff numbers taken to races.

All this as the majority of teams attempt to balance the books following the last round of changes.

Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 17/04/2014 5:46

"So which part of F1 is going to become an Olymic event? Team event = fastest pit stop? Individual event = the longest whinge or the most excuses in 30 seconds?

Any offers for gold, silver and bronze medals?"

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2. Posted by ape, 16/04/2014 21:54

"I like Ferrari for bringing some fun in F1 , always chaos , sacking the wrong people and then the endless speak and politics.
If they are not capable of building a good engine why not buying a Merc engine for their red cars.
"

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3. Posted by nealio, 16/04/2014 16:56

"it is becoming apparent that the new Strategy Group is a very bad idea. It feeds the advantage of the wealthy teams in technical matters and pursues technical issues which benefit the engineers financially at every turn. "

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4. Posted by GoodPublicity, 16/04/2014 16:05

"The first question, to each of the engine supplier representatives, should be, "Have the teams using your engines experienced irregularities with the fuel flow sensor, and if so when was the first occurrence?"

The second question, to Charlie Whiting, should be, "Why did you allow the fuel flow sensor to be mandated without testing it adequately?"

The third question, again to Charlie Whiting, should be, "Please show cause why you shouldn't be dismissed on the grounds of incompetence.""

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5. Posted by edenrace, 16/04/2014 14:35

"Simplifying front wings is a sensible move, have flat wing end plates front and rear, no holes, and maximum of say front 2 flaps would save many many thousands "

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Whiting and Honda man line up for China press conference

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