Struggling Ferrari alter pit personnel

MILAN (Reuters) - Ferrari team manager Luca Baldisserri will not attend Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix and his track responsibilities have been handed to engineer Chris Dyer, the struggling world champions said on Monday.

Ferrari are without a point after the first two races of the season and Baldisserri, criticised in the Italian media for his decision-making at the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier this month, will stay behind to work in the factory.

He will be part of a working group which will try out new technologies aimed at closing the gap with innovative championship leaders Brawn GP.

"A crucial element of this group is Luca Baldisserri. The Scuderia Team Manager will follow the single-seater's development step by step, while his role at the track will be covered by Chris Dyer," a Ferrari statement said.

Brawn, along with Toyota and Williams, have used diffusers this season which other teams have said are against the rules.

The Court of Appeal of the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) will meet in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the appeal presented by Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull and BMW-Sauber against the decisions of race stewards in Australia and Malaysia who said the diffusers were legal.

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