MONACO -- Formula One teams have been ordered to remove screens and covers preventing cars from being seen by spectators -- and other teams' spies -- in the pit lane and garages at grands prix.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement at the Monaco Grand Prix that the decision was taken for reasons of safety and to allow scrutineers and pit observers to do their jobs.

"No screen, cover or other obstruction which in any way obscures any part of a car will be allowed at any time in the pit lane or garages, save with the express permission in each case of the FIA safety delegate," it said.

Teams use covers to shield sensitive parts of their cars and screens to keep prying eyes out of the garages but spectators also lose out.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said he believed the ruling was for all races and as long as it was the same for everybody then he did not have any "great discomfort" with it.

"We don't really have a lot to hide," he said.

Massa Maddening
Briton Jenson Button has accused Sauber's Felipe Massa of dangerous driving during qualifying for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

Button, 22, claimed that Brazilian Massa, who is one year younger than him and is in his debut season of Formula One, had deliberately blocked his line at the end of the session.

Massa qualified in 13th place, a lowly position for his normally competitive Sauber team.

He enraged both Button and the Briton's Renault teammate Jarno Trulli, of Italy, who was also blocked by the Sauber in two of his qualifying laps.

"I got Massa in the tunnel and I think it was a bit dangerous to be going so slowly," said Button.

"He didn't pull over. He was getting in the way of everyone, just driving around slowly in the middle of the circuit. I don't know what his game is but it looked like he was doing it on purpose."

Massa responded with claims that Briton David Coulthard had held him up, and insisted there was no malice in his moves whatsoever. He added: "I just moved over in the tunnel for him."

Dennis backs Monaco
McLaren Formula One boss Ron Dennis has backed plans to upgrade Monaco's cramped pits but has criticized the race marshals for damaging Kimi Raikkonen's car.

Dennis, who spoke out against the principality's out-dated facilities last year, said he was encouraged by plans for new garages and grandstands to be built in time for the 2006 season.

"I spent an evening with Prince Albert and talked extensively to him about the plans. And therefore I was reasonably upbeat until this afternoon," he said.

Dennis said McLaren had to wait for almost half an hour for Kimi Raikkonen's car to be returned after the Finn had an accident in morning practice.

They found the car's roll hoop had been damaged when marshals lifted it off the track and the problems were exacerbated by logistical difficulties in getting the vehicle back to the garages.

"When you are faced with a sea of people through which you have got to try and get the car back to the pits, you get pretty damn frustrated," said Dennis.

The team's garages are located on the harbourside at Monaco and, with the track reopened as a public road after competitive sessions, mechanics have to push the cars through a throng of people to get to the pits.

Raikkonen qualified sixth for Sunday's race while teammate Coulthard was second fastest.