Chinese Grand Prix 2011: Red Bull's Mark Webber makes no excuses for dismal performance in Shanghai

Allied to other technical glitches, the KERS drama cost Webber valuable track time during today's final free practice session, and come qualifying the team were forced to admit defeat and disconnect the system.

But Webber's problems were compounded when a timing miscalculation at the end of the first qualifying segment meant the Australian did not have time to get two laps on the harder option tyre.

"Today was pretty amazing really with all the hurdles that we had but that's what happens in motor racing," Webber explained.

"We had an electrical problem in the morning and some upshift problems, so we have had a pretty solid day in terms of the car putting up a bit of a fight. But the guys have worked like hell, they have done what they can.

"At the moment we're not getting the rub of the green but that's also down to preparations and decisions.

"You can't make a shopping list of excuses."

Webber revealed that the decision to stay on the harder tyre in the final minutes of first qualifying would have been sound but for a costly miscalculation.

And it is that error above all else that Webber insists is to blame for his lowly grid slot.

"We decided to go for another run on the harder prime tyre to have a few laps at it, but we did not get out quickly enough, so we only had one timed lap," he said.

"Added to that, the tyres weren't up to temperature. We all started to panic a bit at the end when we knew we weren't going to get two laps in. The tyre should have been good enough but on one lap it wasn't enough, and we snookered ourselves really."

Webber's early-season struggles have left him 28 points behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who leads the standings after two wins from two, and who is also on pole for tomorrow's race.

But the seasoned campaigner is refusing to become too disheartened.

"At this level you need everything perfect," he said. "We've had that in the past and we'll work hard to get that again in the future."

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London 2012: Boxing performance director Rob McCraken has licence revoked

Great Britain's hopes of boxing glory at the London 2012 Olympics have been hit by the news that head coach and performance director Rob McCracken has had his licence revoked by the amateur code's governing body AIBA with immediate effect.

AIBA officials wrote to McCracken this week informing him that he will no longer be able to take part in AIBA-sanctioned events - including the Olympics - due to his links with the professional sport.

McCracken, who also coaches WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, has headed Great Britain's amateur programme since 2009 but AIBA claim they have only recently been made aware of the link.

Under Rule 12.3.1 of their constitution, McCracken will be barred until such time as he denounces his professional links and re-applies to be registered as an AIBA coach - a process which will take at least six months.

This means whichever path McCracken opts to take - and it is unlikely he will be willing to split with Froch, who fights Glen Johnson in Atlantic City in June - he will miss this year's World Championships, which double as the first Olympic qualifier, in Baku in September.

McCracken was not available for comment but a British Amateur Boxing Association official said: 'We are very shocked by this new rule that could have a serious impact on our medal chances at the London 2012 Olympics.'

AIBA claim the rule is nothing new and that had the then Amateur Boxing Association of England chief executive Paul King indicated McCracken's professional links when he applied for the licence on McCracken's behalf in 2009, it would have been rejected.

Despite McCracken's high-profile job with Froch, an AIBA spokesman insisted: "It is the case that we did not know that he was coaching a professional boxer until it was brought to our attention at the end of last year.

'We have 195 member federations and it is very difficult for us to have close control over all of them. It's a full-time job keeping lots of people in line with the rules and lots of people need to bring things to our attention.'

The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has cooled in recent months following King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu.

There was also disappointment that plans for a London franchise in the AIBA's World Series of Boxing were scrapped in 2009. The WSB suffered a blow when one of its principle backers, sports marketing giant IMG, withdrew this week.

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