Will Ferrari allow Minardi to race? - 2nd March 19:30pm GMT

Ferrari have until tomorrow to prevent a possible riot — and strike action from rival teams — in the build-up to Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix here.

The Italian giants are at the centre of a David and Goliath row threatening to cause chaos to the season’s opening showdown.

It also promises to take the gloss off the celebrations being prepared to toast the 10th anniversary of the Melbourne extravaganza.

The explosive issue can be defused only if Ferrari back down and give Minardi the green light to run their old cars here and at the next two races.

While cash-strapped Minardi are no-hopers in the title stakes they have a huge following here since Australian businessman Paul Stoddart took over the team in 2002.

But they are the only outfit who have been unable either to afford to build a new car in time for the curtain-raising event or make the modifications needed to comply to new regulations.

The rest of the teams — except Ferrari — have agreed Minardi can use their 2004 models until their latest car comes off the production line.

Unless Ferrari boss Jean Todt does a U-turn and backs Minardi before scrutinisers check all the cars tomorrow afternoon there is a chance things will turn nasty.

Any team is allowed to break a rule only if there is total agreement between all the teams.

Stoddart fumed: “Everyone is in agreement about us racing except Ferrari and you would hope that Jean Todt would see sense, but who knows? They have been acting outside the other teams in the past few weeks so you can never be certain. One thing is for sure Ferrari will not want this to go nuclear because the backlash against them in this country would be huge. On this, the 10th anniversary of the race I wouldn’t want to be the one to spoil the party.”

Stoddart also hinted at a possible strike by other teams. He warned: “Put it this way, if Minardi do not turn a wheel this weekend they will not be the only ones.”

theprancinghorse.co.uk says that you will see Minardi take the track on Friday. Its been blown out of all proportion and Paul Stoddart hasn't had one good thing to say about F1 since the season finished last year.