Minardi boss Paul Stoddart could be in for another shock today following Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's admission that his team will not agree to the Faenza team running 2004 cars in this weekend's Australian GP.

In a game of political football that became boring some time ago, the FIA says that Minardi must have the agreement of Ferrari if it is to be allowed to enter its 2004 cars in this weekend's race. However, Ferrari claims that such a decision rests solely with the sport's governing body.

Stoddart is whipping up public and media support by claiming that he has the (written) agreement of eight other teams, with only Ferrari blocking him from Sunday's race. Not so, says Horner.

"I sympathise with his position but rules are rules," Horner told Reuters. "They are there for a reason and we all have to abide by them. My position and that of Red Bull is that nothing would be more frustrating for us in a debut race to finish ninth with a Minardi ahead of us and a point taken from us."

Stoddart had previously claimed that without Ferrari boss Jean Todt's signature, Minardi's participation in the Melbourne event - and thereby the next three races - would be "in trouble". Following Horner's revelation it appears that the task is greater than originally feared.