Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has admitted that technical rule changes introduced in the winter to slow cars down may not be severe enough and may have to be changed before the sport reaches Europe for the San Marino Grand Prix on April 15th.

After the death of a track marshal in the Australian Grand Prix, the FIA president Max Mosley admitted the increase in speeds caused by Michelin's return to the sport this season - creating a "tyre war" against the existing Bridgestone supplier - had taken them by surprise.

In Melbourne, Michael Schumacher's Ferrari took pole position almost four seconds-alap faster than last year's fastest qualifier, despite a car with much-reduced aerodynamic downforce thanks to new rules requiring a raised nose section and smaller rear wings. Mosley said cornering speeds would be monitored for the next two races, the results analysed and steps taken to curb them.