Button's team tactics slammed by Toyota

Jenson Button has been caught up in a row over fair play on the race track which threatens to cloud this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix,

His BAR-Honda team has been accused of exploiting a loophole in new rules that could give their cars an advantage in the second round of the world championship.

Toyota, Honda's Japanese rival, hit out at BAR's decision to retire the cars of Button and Japanese team-mate Takuma Sato one lap before the end of the Australian Grand Prix a fortnight ago when they were out of points-scoring positions.

New regulations demand that an engine must last for two races. However, if a car retires before taking the chequered flag it can be fitted with a fresh engine for the next race.

Luca Marmorini, technical director for Toyota, whose cars raced to the end in Australia even though they were out of the points, said: "We decided to pass the chequered flag out of respect for the spirit of the new rules."