Hopes of either McLaren or WilliamsF1 running a third car in free practice next season, have taken a knock with the news that the FIA will probably close a loophole that would allow (normally) front running teams to take advantage.

The new rule was introduced this season, both as an attempt to spice up Friday practice, and to appease teams for the withdrawal of the rule that allowed teams to carry out a two hour test on GP Friday's during 2003 - a rule that Renault, in particular, and Jaguar, used to great advantage.

This season, the last six in the 2003 constructors' championship were allowed to enter a third car in the two Friday sessions, and even allowed to run the car in an alternate livery. However, after pressure from a team boss - thought to be balding, with a passion for black leather and extremely verbose - it was decided that the driver of the third car may not have taken part in more than six Grands Prix in the previous two years. Thus ending several F1 careers at a stroke.

As we approach the end of the 2004, it would appear that the fifth placed team will be McLaren, though it could be still be WilliamsF1, prompting suggestions that it might be advantageous for one of the teams to 'settle' for fifth and take full advantage of the third car rule in 2005. Not so, says Ron Dennis.

"I would be very surprised if it happened," Ron Dennis told reporters at Monza. "It was really never designed for any of the top teams to gain an advantage. If, suddenly, no team who has won the constructors' championship in the last ten years is allowed to do it, then you supplement the regulation and it's voted through. Obviously there are only two people who are going to vote against it. It's pretty simple how it's going to unfold."

The Englishman, who regards finishing second as being 'the first of the losers', then added: "We want to be fourth or higher, irrespective."

Frank Williams also admitted that it is unlikely that a 'top team' could exploit the rule, though he revealed that if given the opportunity his team would take full advantage of the option.

Allowing himself a grin, he suggested that it might be possible for his team and McLaren to finish joint-fifth.