.:: The FOTA/FIA 2010 War - Todt new FIA President ::.

CAMPOS'S TEAM LOGDES F1 ENTRY

The Campos Racing team has confirmed its intention to enter Formula 1 in 2010, having lodged its entry for the championship tonight.

The team, currently racing in the Spanish Formula 3 Championship, is owned by former grand prix driver Adrian Campos, who previously owned current GP2 champion Barwa Addax. This was initially believed to be the team which had F1 plans, something that was denied earlier this week.

Campos Racing confirmed on Friday that at 00:05 it had lodged its entry for the championship under the budget cap rules.

The official period to submit entries for next year opened today and closes on May 29.

Campos said it has lodged its entry in conjunction with Meta Image, and that the F1 team would be called Campos Meta 1.

The team said it was unwilling to reveal the people involved in the project, but denied reports that appeared in the Spanish media about some of the investors linked to it.

Spain's top-selling newspaper Marca had reported earlier this week that Mexican businessman Carlos Slim and NBA player Pau Gasol were involved in the project.

AUTOSPORT 

ECCLESTONE WARNS FERRARI OF LEGAL ACTION

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that Ferrari could face legal action if it walks away from the sport at the end of this year.

Ahead of crunch talks between teams and FIA president Max Mosley in Monaco today, Ecclestone has upped the ante by suggesting that Ferrari would be in breach of contract if it did not enter F1 in 2010.

It comes after a French court ruled this week that agreements in place between Ferrari, Ecclestone and the FIA, which locked the team into F1 until 2012, were valid.

Ecclestone told The Times newspaper that he was in no doubt that Ferrari had a commitment to be in F1.

"We would always respect our contracts," Ecclestone said. "And all the teams that have signed contracts with us would expect us to respect them, and we would expect the same from Ferrari. They are saying they are going to walk, we are saying we hope they respect their contract."

There are also suggestions that Ecclestone has written to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo telling him that television rights money paid to the team, believed to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds, may have to be returned if the team breaks its contract.

F1 teams are set to meet on Renault boss Flavio Briatore's yacht in Monaco on Friday afternoon to talk about their response to Mosley's refusal to compromise on plans on a £40 million voluntary budget cap. A meeting with the FIA president is set for later in the day.

SOURCE: Autosport

DI MONTEZEMOLO: F1 TEAMS ARE UNITED

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said teams will present a united front in their showdown talks with FIA president Max Mosley later today to discuss the future of Formula 1.

Following several hours of discussions between team principals on Friday afternoon on board Flavio Briatore's yacht Blue Force to discuss their plan of action, di Montezemolo was positive that the teams had reached some 'constructive' conclusions.

"As always there's been a very good meeting, with a very good atmosphere and we are all together," said di Montezemolo.

"We are all together and we will be in a position to go to the president of the FIA saying very constructively and in a very clear way the position of FOTA."

When asked if he was positive that an agreement could be reached to prevent a walkout by leading teams, di Montezemolo said: "We will see. It is important that our view of the future is absolutely shared."

Di Montezemolo's comments come after Mosley warned on Friday that F1 did not need Ferrari.

"Formula 1 would not be the same without Ferrari but no team is indispensable," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Most of the teams understand that we cannot continue to spend at current levels. The real question is: do we control costs by restricting the work of the best engineers or do we control costs by restricting the amount of money available. To me, the answer is clear - hence the cost cap."

He added: "We have no desire to exclude Ferrari or any other team from Formula 1. Indeed quite the opposite. Our concern is to ensure the economic
sustainability of F1 as well as making conditions right for new teams to enter."

Mosley said he hoped that he would be greeted by 'constructive' talks from the teams in Monaco, following threats to walkout last week's talks at Heathrow.

"It's a pity that two teams did not want to discuss compromise last Friday in London," he said. "They kept trying to get the other teams to walk out. I hope that with Luca present things will be more constructive this time."

SOURCE: Autosport

TEAMS FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH FIA

Formula 1 teams failed to reach an agreement with FIA president Max Mosley about the future of the sport on Friday, despite lengthy talks that ran into the early evening.

Following a series of discussions over the course of the day, the teams met with Mosley to try and find a resolution to their unhappiness about plans for a voluntary budget cap.

However, despite talking for almost three hours no agreement was reached meaning several teams remain poised to not lodge entries for 2010 by next weeks deadline.

Although most team principals refused to comment about the situation as they left the Automobile Club de Monaco, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo revealed that more talks were needed.

"It was a long and constructive meeting," he said. "FOTA will have another meeting tomorrow, and then there will be another meeting with Mosley.

"What we want is that Formula 1 stays as Formula 1, that it doesn't become something different and go towards constant changes which confuse the public and all the others, that there should be stability and that we work over the next two years to arrive at a way of further reducing costs."

Despite the failure to reach an agreement on Friday, and with next weeks entry deadline looming, Mosley said he remained optimistic a deal could be reached.

"It was a good constructive meeting. The discussions are ongoing," he said.

When asked what the issues were, Mosley said: "They are the same issues. But I am hopeful there will be an agreement."

Ferrari, Red Bull, Toyota and Renault have all said that they will not enter the 2010 championship unless the rules are chaged.

Teams have until May 29 to lodge their entries to the championship with those missing the deadline likely to face a fine if they want to get back, providing there is space left on the grid.

SOURCE: Autosport

FRY: TALKS HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS

Nick Fry, the chief executive officer of Brawn, believes teams have found some common ground with the FIA, despite failing to reach an agreement with Max Mosley on Friday.

The teams spent several hours in discussions with the governing body at the Automobile Club de Monaco, but their meeting ended without agreement about a way forward that both the teams and the FIA are happy with.

With time running out ahead of next week's entry deadline for the 2010 championship, more meetings are now scheduled to take place over the Monaco weekend.

Speaking about the state of play, Fry said there were some some positive signs that came out of the meeting.

"Proposals were made on both sides and common ground was found so I'm sure there will be more discussion," he explained. "It was a good meeting and everyone's made some progress."

When asked how quickly he reckoned a resolution to the situation could be found, Fry said: "I think it will be done this weekend."

A Ferrari spokesman added: "It was a long constructive but not definitive meeting, so there will be more talks in the next few days."

SOURCE: Autosport

US F1 CONFIRM 2010 ENTRY SUBMISSION

Team US F1 has become the second team to publicly confirm that it has lodged its entry for next year's world championship.

While the current teams continue discussions with the FIA about changing the regulations so they are happy to submit their own entries, US F1 has joined Campos Racing in committing itself to its 2010 plans.

Team principal Ken Anderson confirmed the plans when speaking to AUTOSPORT in the Monaco paddock. When asked if his team had lodged its entry, he said: "Yes we have. It's Team US F1."

Anderson also said that his team had an engine deal in place - as was required by the FIA's entry application form. Although not revealing its identity, the team has been strongly linked to a Cosworth deal in recent weeks.

Entries for the 2010 championship close next Friday, with the FIA due to confirm the successful applicants on June 12.

A number of other new teams are expected to lodge entries in the next few days as they finalise their funding and business plans. Current outfits Ferrari, Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have already said, however, that if the current regulations are not changed then they will not be entering next year.

AUTOSPORT

EDIT: first post updated with comfirmed entry submissions for 2010

TEAMS CONTINUE TO WORK ON F1 AGREEMENT

Formula 1 teams are due to meet once again on race morning at the Monaco Grand Prix to try and hammer out an agreement to secure the future of the sport.

Although members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) have expressed some optimism that a solution can be found to the row over a £40 million budget cap, there remain differences that are not so easy to resolve in the short term.

And there is some time pressure on the situation, because the deadlines for entries to the 2010 world championship is next Friday.

Speaking after the latest meeting that took place in Monaco on Saturday afternoon, Ross Brawn expressed some hope that teams were inching towards a resolution to the situation.

"Well we have another meeting tomorrow, and we seem to make progress at each meeting," he said. "So as long as we continue to make progress at each meeting then we should eventually arrive at a solution, so I don't know how many meetings it will take.

"There are agreements amongst the teams and agreements with the FIA, so I think my view is that there is progress and if we keep working in a constructive way then we will eventually reach a solution."

When asked if it was possible to come up with a solution by next Friday, Brawn said: "I wouldn't like to comment on that. Maybe, maybe not. I think ...who knows."

Although FOTA has not revealed any details of its plans or progress, a senior source has suggested that the current teams may all choose to lodge their entries by next week's deadline - but only with an attachment expressing that their entry does depend on them being happy with the 2010 regulations.

Such a proviso would at least buy the teams some time to thrash out a suitable agreement with the FIA – which could include budget cap spending exceptions and a glide path of cost reduction.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said there was a 'responsibility' amongst those involved in the negotiations to find an answer.

"We need between us to find a good solution for Formula 1, for the fans, for everybody," he said. "It's very easy at these critical times for egos, and the like, to get in the way of finding a solution.

"A lot has been said in the run up to the meetings, which probably doesn't help because it only causes people to be entrenched in their position. I think we all have a responsibility, those of us who are involved in the sport, to find a positive way forward.

"There are 10 teams here who have shown great commitment to be in Formula 1. There are probably three teams who wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the efforts of the FOTA, and I think there has to be a determination to make sure that we retain 10 teams at least.

"So we need to try to be calm, be constructive and work together. There were some constructive parts of the meeting yesterday, but not everything is agreed. The priority at the moment is to make sure we find a positive way forward for the sport."

Brawn said: "We all want to come together for a solution because we don't want to lose anyone in F1. My personal ambition is that all the teams should find a solution together, but I think we will. We will eventually reach a solution that everyone will accept, including the FIA."

Despite the optimism, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen admitted that the situation was still far from resolved.

"It was positive to have the meeting and to discuss the individual issues but I have to say that we have not arrived at a solution," he said.

When asked how much closer he felt the teams were to an agreement compared to last week's meetings at Heathrow, Theissen said: "Difficult to tell. It's been a constructive meeting and discussions. But then it needs to be pinned down on a piece of paper what really was achieved and only then you can judge on it."

AUTOSPORT 

BMW SAUBER MAY CONSIDER F1 FUTURE

BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen says the team's continued involvement in Formula 1 depends on the outcome of current talks to decide the sport's future.

Theissen denied the German manufacturer would quit at the end of the season.

But he revealed the team's future could rest on the 2010 rule changes under discussion by governing body, the FIA, and teams' association Fota.

"If the framework and the conditions change greatly that would be a reason for us to review the project," he said.

With the deadline for 2010 entries looming on Friday, Fota met again on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, to discuss their next move.

"It was positive to have Friday's meeting and to discuss the issues, but we have not arrived at a decision," added Theissen.

However, the BMW boss insisted the team's disappointing performance this season would not affect the German car giant's decision on its future.

BMW have scored only six points in 2009 thanks to Nick Heidfeld's four points in Malaysia and seventh place in Barcelona.

In Monaco, Heidfeld and Kubica qualified in 17th and 18th, respectively.

"It's been the worse qualifying performance we have had," said Theissen, who was at the helm when BMW made their debut in 2006.

"We are analysing the reasons behind this but I don't have an explanation yet. However, this is a single event and has nothing to do with long-term strategy."

BBC SPORT

TEAMS DEMAND FIA DITCH 2010 RULES

Formula 1 teams have written to FIA president Max Mosley requesting that next year's regulations are scrapped if they are to commit their future to the sport, AUTOSPORT has learned.

Although Mosley hinted on race morning at the Monaco Grand Prix that he was open to a compromise deal about plans for a £40 million budget cap, the teams have now made it clear the conditions by which they will continue to race.

In a letter signed by all teams and sent to Mosley shortly before the race, the teams demanded that the FIA ditches the planned 2010 technical and sporting regulations and reverts to the current 2009 version.

This would then be used as the starting point for framing new regulations to bring costs under control - with agreed changes like a refueling ban still expected to go ahead as planned.

As well as the rule changes, the teams want guarantees about the governance of the sport and the reestablishment of protocols, like the use of the Formula 1 Commission, to ensure there is proper framing of the rules going forward.

A FOTA source said that in exchange for the FIA agreeing to such action, the teams have promised a "willingness to commit their future to the sport."

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali confirmed the existence of the letter shortly after the Monaco Grand Prix.

"What we have asked is to go back to the rules of this year, the 2009 rules," he said. "And then see together what we can do in order to make changes for next year.

"Bear in mind that for sure the cost is something that all the teams are fully committed to work on, but the cost is something that is related to the business of the teams.

"We know what we can invest. We know what we can do, and this is something that the teams can discuss internally and decide on their own what they can afford to keep the value of F1 at the standard that we know. It is not something that we feel should be involved with somebody else."

While there has been talk of a compromise £45-million budget cap in place for 2011, sources have suggested that the teams are still far apart from the FIA in agreeing a way forward.

It is understood that one suggestion being looked at is for the teams to invoke a 'Cost Control System', which will be regulated by FOTA rather than the FIA, to help bring finances under control.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he was optimistic about a solution being found before Friday's entry deadline to the championship, Domenicali said: "I don't know really. I think the points that we have put on the table are pretty clear, and I think we raised some issues in the meeting that we had.

"It was as we said constructive, but there is an ongoing process to discuss. I am sure it will be a very important week because the entry to this championship has to be finalised by Friday. I think they will be long days."

FOTA vice chairman John Howett echoed Domenicali's reluctance to get too optimistic about a deal being easily reached.

"I think we have to wait and see," he said. "There are still some gaps. While there has been definite movement, I think we have to wait and see what the solution is and whether it is accepted or not."

Brawn chief executive officer Nick Fry said that the push by the teams about using the 2009 regulations again in 2010 was not indicative of the discussions having broken down.

"No. It is not a stalemate. It is normal negotiations. The sides have some differences of view in terms of how the regulations should look, and once one side has put a view forward, the other side responds - and so on and so forth. I would consider that to be perfectly normal.

"We are all in favour of a degree of financial responsibility. I know there is no team that is proposing a financial free for all, we all represent big companies and the economic times are not appropriate to be spending a lot of money. The only discussion is how you do it, and what the right mechanism is.

"We have a huge range of teams - teams that want to come into the championship that are small and have limited resources and coming from lower formulas; we have teams who do have a huge amount of infrastructure and we have teams like ourselves that were lucky enough to benefit from manufacturer backing but now don't have that, and teams that are still very large and enjoy manufacturer backing.

"And the issue is how you actually find a compromise that enables the little guys to have a fighting chance and the big guys to downsize their companies in a sensible period of time. And that is not easy."

FOTA members are expected to meet later this week to discuss their stance towards lodging entries by Friday's deadline, but much depends on the FIA's response to the latest demands.

SOURCE: Autosport

Williams submits F1 entry for 2010

Williams has become the first of the current teams to enter next year's world championship, despite the continued uncertainty about the regulations.

Just 24 hours after Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) members claimed that the current grid was 'united' in its efforts to get the 2010 regulations changed, Williams has decided to lodge an application to compete in next year's championship.

Williams CEO Adam Parr told Reuters that his team's decision did not mean that the outfit was breaking away from FOTA, however.

"The unity of FOTA is of paramount importance to Williams," said Parr. "Yesterday we joined the other members of FOTA in writing to the FIA (International Automobile Federation) to request a continuing effort to find a compromise concerning the regulations for 2010."

Teams have written to FIA president Max Mosley saying that they will commit to racing until 2012, and sign a new Concorde Agreement, if the FIA scraps next year's regulations.

Speaking about the Concorde Agreement, Parr said: "We believe that under the leadership of (Ferrari president Luca) di Montezemolo and (Toyota motorsport president) John Howett, FOTA has extracted some very significant concessions from the FIA.

"These include not only the procedural aspects of the budget cap but also other elements that will enable the higher budget teams to participate.

"Having said that, Williams has -- and has always maintained -- that we have a binding contract with both FOM (Ecclestone's Formula One Management) and the FIA to participate in the world championship from 2008 to 2010."

He added: "We have been paid in full for our participation and we feel both morally and legally obliged to make it clear that we will participate in Formula One in the future as we have in the past 30 years.

"We owe this to our employees, our sponsors and the fans, all of whom are affected by statements that the teams may not enter next year's championship."

"We will continue to work within FOTA and with FOM and FIA to find a compromise but no one should be in any doubt about our commitment to the FIA F1 world championship."

Other members of FOTA are expected to meet this week to decide what to do about their entries to next year's championship, with the deadline closing this Friday.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

McLAREN FEELS "PEACEMAKER" IN FIA ROW

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh feels his team and partners Mercedes have acted as "peacemakers" between the rest of the teams and the FIA in the row over next year's rules.

The Formula One Teams' Association has been at loggerheads with the FIA following the introduction of the budget cap rules for 2010, with several teams threatening to quit the sport if the regulations remain unchanged.

McLaren has maintained it does not want a two-tier championship, but has kept a much more low-key approach than some of its rivals.

Whitmarsh said his team felt his team felt a duty to try and smooth things out between the other squads and the FIA.

"We do feel responsible for being a peacemaker or to help try and bring that together," said Whitmarsh.

"Formula 1 is our core business and I'd hope if you talked to any team in F1 they would say that McLaren is being very constructive and conciliatory, sought for compromise and we've seen it as our role.

"We are right in the middle in terms of budgets, we've got large teams and large continental corporations that are wrestling with the concept of becoming smaller and we've got small teams that are trying to survive and I think we can have an affinity from our position with both of those.

"And you've got to try and bring together the Toyota business model with that of a Toro Rosso then that's quite a challenge but I hope we are in a position where we can understand that and I like to believe that we and Mercedes Benz can and have been very constructive in trying to bring those together. I think we very much try to do just that."

Whitmarsh also claimed his team has also been vocal about its ideas, just not in public.

"We have been vocal within the group, not vocal outside it," he added. "That's the right place to be vocal. I think our position is being very clearly and firmly put within the discussions that we have among ourselves but that's the right to be vocal."

SOURCE: Autosport

F1 TEAMS MEET ON WEDNESDAY

Formula 1 team chiefs will meet again in London on Wednesday to plot their next move as negotiations over the future of the sport continue.

In Monaco, the teams told governing body the FIA they would commit until 2012 if president Max Mosley scrapped his controversial rules for 2010.

In a letter to the teams on Tuesday, Mosley reiterated his calls for them to agree a curb on budgets of about £40m.

Teams have until Friday to submit their entries for the 2010 season.

On Monday, Williams confirmed they will enter the 2010 championship despite adding their signature to Sunday's letter.

The move by Williams, who have won the constructors' title nine times, is understood to have disrupted the unity of the teams' association Fota, with some members said to have been angered by their decision.

A resolution is still some way off but it is hoped Wednesday's meeting will help determine whether all the 10 teams currently on the grid will stay in the sport.

Last week Ferrari and Renault both threatened to pull out, but with discussions still going on that threat would now seem to have receded.

At the weekend meeting, it was agreed in principle to delay introducing a 45m euro (£39.6m) budget cap until 2011, while Mosley has made other concessions to the teams on governance.

It is understood the teams may also receive more money from Bernie Ecclestone, who runs the companies which control the sport's commercial rights.

The deal was been reached after a series of meetings involving team principals, Mosley and Ecclestone.

Both the teams and Mosley are united in their desire to reduce the huge costs involving in running an F1 team.

BBC SPORT 

WILLIAMS SUSPENDED FROM FOTA

Williams have been suspended from the Formula 1 Teams' Association (Fota) after signing up for the 2010 season.

The teams are in talks over planned budgetary curbs for next year and several teams including Ferrari say they will quit if a deal is not agreed.

"Fota's decision, although regrettable, is understandable," said team principal Frank Williams.

"As a company whose only business is F1 with obligations to our partners and employees entering was unquestionable."

Team chiefs met in Monaco at the weekend to discuss the proposals put forward by International Motorsport Federation (FIA) chief Max Mosley, and further talks are planned for London on Wednesday.

Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull and Toyota have all threatened to pull out of the sport if the budgetary restrictions are forced through, but on Monday, the day after the Monaco Grand Prix, Williams broke ranks and confirmed they were signing up for next season.

At the time, Williams chief executive Adam Parr said they felt "morally and legally obliged" to make it clear the team would continue to take part in F1.

"We owe it to our employees, sponsors and fans who are affected by statements that teams may not enter next year," he added.

It is not clear how long the suspension from Fota will be in operation.

BBC SPORT

PARR: WILLIAMS NOT TRYING TO SPLIT FOTA

Williams CEO Adam Parr says the British squad is not trying to split up the teams with its decision to submit its entry for the 2010 championship.

The team became the first to confirm its present in next year's championship, a decision that caused the Formula One Teams' Association to suspend Williams from the organisation.

FOTA is still at loggerheads with the FIA over the 2010 regulations, and the teams' body wrote to president Max Mosley on Sunday night saying they remained united.

On Monday, however, Williams confirmed it had submitted its entry for next season, but Parr made it clear that the decision had nothing to do with a hidden agenda to destabilise FOTA.

"One thing I would like to make clear is that there is no agenda on the part of Williams," Parr told the Telegraph. "We are not trying to split the teams. We are not even trying to dissuade them.

"As a team we have a certain philosophy and this is an inevitable and necessary development. It may well be that other teams have a different view. I completely respect that.

"We feel there is a huge chance to resolve this and very much hope that all the existing teams, plus one or two new ones, will be on the grid with us next year."

Parr added that the other members of FOTA has not expressed hard feelings against Williams.

"If there are bad feelings, they certainly haven't been expressed to us. I see it more as a pragmatic measure," he added.

"If the majority of the teams want to go in a certain direction and among the minority there is a team that wants something different, then FOTA would be weakened by the continued membership of that party. I accept that."

FOTA met in London on Wednesday as it continues working in trying to reach a deal with the FIA.

Parr said the organization also discussed Williams's continued participation in the group.

"Frank [Williams] and I were both there," Parr said. "The first item on the agenda was our continued participation in FOTA. We clarified our reasons for doing what we did on Monday and we then offered to leave the room.

"After a while we were called back in and told, in a very polite and non-confrontational manner, that while negotiations with the governing body continued it would be better if we were not part of the discussions."

SOURCE: Autosport

FOTA AGREES ON PLAN TO HELP NEW TEAMS

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) has agreed to propose a system of technical partnerships for new teams to assist them in joining the grid in 2010, following a meeting between the team principals in London yesterday, AUTOSPORT has learned.

As the teams close in on an agreement with the FIA over the future regulations of F1 ahead of tomorrow's 2010 entry deadline, FOTA hopes this compromise would allow prospective new teams assistance from the established operations to compete credibly in their first seasons without having to fund a significant increase beyond the set budget cap.

FOTA is pushing for a "glidepath" approach to adopting the budget cap regulations, with a two-step reduction in expenditure in 2010 and 2011.

This would see expenditure limited to €100 million in 2010, dropping to €45 for the following season.

The technical partnerships would give the new teams assistance in terms of parts, particularly non-performance differentiators, as well as some design know-how.

The FOTA proposal is believed to stop short of allowing full-blown customer cars, something that is strongly opposed by several teams, and would be structured to ensure that the newcomers compete under the budget cap in their own right in 2011.

FOTA also discussed further ways to develop the budget cap concept, with the possibility of some commonality of non-performance differentiators still on the table in a bid to repackage the imposed limit as a programme of cost containment.

Although final agreement has not been reached, it is believed that both the FIA and FOTA are confident that a resolution can be found ahead of the entry deadline.

SOURCE: Autosport

Aston Martin could be coming to F1 it seems, if David Richards has his way. He has entered Prodrive for 2010, and by 2012, it should become a full Aston Martin branded team. Source: Autosport

EDIT: The story has been removed from Autosport

The team is the third new entry to formally apply for one of the three places currently available on the 2010 grid, with Campos Meta1 and Team US F1 having already submitted their entries.

Lola is also expected to submit an entry before the end of today's cut-off.

Richards' decision to enter F1 now has been prompted by the fact that a drive to forge a budget cap in the sport has one again made it commercially viable for his company to be competitive - conditions Richards has consistently held over entering F1.

"We are very appreciative of the support we have been given in putting together our entry, not least by both the FIA and FOM," said Richards. "With the help of Dar Capital, in raising the finance, coupled with our understanding of the latest proposals to assist new teams, we now feel the conditions are right to formally request the FIA for an entry.

"The level of next year's cost cap has risen substantially since we originally considered entering. However everyone appears committed to major reductions in future years and when one takes into account the transition proposals for new teams we are confident that we now have the opportunity to be both commercially viable and competitive.

"As we have said all along, we don't want to be in Formula 1 just to make up the numbers."

Prodrive's entry comes 18 months after its last attempt to enter F1 was scuppered by the ban on customer chassis; the team having negotiated a deal to source cars from McLaren.

The link with McLaren could remain this time around in the form of a technical partnership, although details of the engine package are still yet to be revealed. Force India has similar ties to McLaren in the current season, and uses engines from Mercedes-Benz.

Finance for the project has been assisted by Middle-East-based finance, logistics and property company Dar, which formed the backbone of the Richards-led conglomerate that paid $925 million for a majority stake in Aston Martin in 2007.

Assuming that the team's entry is accepted, it will mark Richards' return to the F1 paddock for the first time since 2004, when he was stood down as team principal of BAR following the team's purchase by Honda.

Prior to his three-year stint with BAR he'd served for one year as director of Benetton F1 in 1997.

Source: autosport

McLAREN FEELS "PEACEMAKER" IN FIA ROW

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh feels his team and partners Mercedes have acted as "peacemakers" between the rest of the teams and the FIA in the row over next year's rules...Redders1989

I wonder how sensitive McLaren's relationship with the FIA is now in the wake of Australia and the last couple of years. Even if McLaren did want to speak out strongly against the FIA, I don't think they would be able to.

Given how lightly they got off after lying to the stewards, and how much backroom politics goes on in F1, I can't help but feel McLaren's relative silence on this issue is linked to their light punishment.

or maybe I'm dreaming up one too many conspiracy theories :)

Anyway today should be the final day to apply for next season, so we will have to wait and see what happens

[QUOTE="Redders1989"] McLAREN FEELS "PEACEMAKER" IN FIA ROW

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh feels his team and partners Mercedes have acted as "peacemakers" between the rest of the teams and the FIA in the row over next year's rules...Avenger1324

I wonder how sensitive McLaren's relationship with the FIA is now in the wake of Australia and the last couple of years. Even if McLaren did want to speak out strongly against the FIA, I don't think they would be able to.

Given how lightly they got off after lying to the stewards, and how much backroom politics goes on in F1, I can't help but feel McLaren's relative silence on this issue is linked to their light punishment.

or maybe I'm dreaming up one too many conspiracy theories :)

Anyway today should be the final day to apply for next season, so we will have to wait and see what happens

EPSILON REMAINS SILENT ON F1 PLANS

The Epsilon Euskadi team is pushing with its plans to enter Formula 1, although the Spanish outfit refused to confirm if it had lodged its F1 entry.

Epsilon is one of the teams believed to be willing to join Formula 1 next season under the budget cap rules, but president Joan Villadelprat said on Thursday that the financial situation had to be sorted first.

"If those things happen we won't have any financial problems. If they don't happen then we would have financial problems and the project wouldn't go ahead," Villadelprat told Spanish television.

"We have the full backing from Bernie Ecclestone. We are a constructor, as we have proved with the Le Mans cars, and now people will understand why we made such an investment last year.

"We have the infrastructure and we have the technical team," added Villadelprat, who has 30 years of experience in Formula 1.

When contacted by AUTOSPORT, the team said it would not make any comments about its F1 involvement yet.

The window to submit entries for next year closes today.

The team, led by Villadelprat as well as former F1 designer Sergio Rinland, has its own LMP1 car, with which it has competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours over the past years.

SOURCE: Autosport

More from PitPass.com:

All FOTA Teams have today submitted conditional entries for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

FOTA confirms all its Members' long-term commitment to be involved in the FIA Formula One World Championship and has unanimously agreed further and significant actions to substantially reduce the costs of competing in the Championship in the next three years, creating a mechanism that will preserve the technological competition and the sporting challenge and, at the same time, facilitate the entry in the F1 Championship for new Teams. These measures are in line with what has been already decided in 2009 within FOTA, achieving important savings on engines and gearboxes.

All FOTA teams have entered the 2010 championship on the basis that:

1: The Concorde Agreement is signed by all parties before 12th June 2009, after which all FOTA teams will commit to competing in Formula One until 2012. The renewal of the Concorde Agreement will provide security for the future of the sport by binding all parties in a formal relationship that will ensure stability via sound governance.

2: The basis of the 2010 regulations will be the current 2009 regulations, amended in accordance with proposals that FOTA has submitted to the FIA.

All FOTA teams' entries for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship have been submitted today on the understanding that (a) all FOTA teams will be permitted to compete during the 2010 Formula One Season on an identical regulatory basis and (b) that they may only be accepted as a whole.

All FOTA teams now look forward with optimism to collaborating proactively and productively with the FIA, with a view to establishing a solid foundation on which the future of a healthy and successful Formula One can be built, providing lasting stability and sound governance.

FOTA Statement

Source: PitPass.com

LOLA CONFIRMS 2010 ENTRY

Lola has confirmed it has submitted its entry to the FIA for next year's Formula 1 world championship.

The Huntingdon-based company had already expressed its interest in returning to grand prix racing last month, after the FIA announced plans to introduce a budget cap system in F1.

On Friday, the last day to lodge entries for 2010, Lola confirmed it had submitted its entry.

The company said it would not many any further comments until the results of the entry submissions are made public on 12th June.

Lola last appeared in F1 in 1997.

SOURCE: Autosport

So, the entries list now consists of:

Campos Meta 1
Prodrive
Team USF1
Lola Grand Prix
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes
Panasonic Toyota Racing
Brawn GP
Red Bull Racing
Scuderia Toro Rosso
AT&T Williams F1 Team
Force India F1 Team
Renault F1 Team
BMW Sauber F1 Team

14 teams, but who will be accepted..

The grid can only hold 26 cars so will we see a return of pre-qualifying or will someone just be plain rejected?. Well done to FOTA for sticking together on this one I say and well done to Mercedes for offering the compomise. KimisApprentice

I'd presume rejection, ala 2007.

A return of March to Formula One

March Racing Organisation has submitted an entry to the FIA to participate in the 2010 championship. 

March Engineering was originally formed in 1969 by Max Mosley, Alan Rees, Graham Coaker and Robin Herd sold Akira Akagi to run under Leyton House branding in 1989. The team reverted to the March name in 1992 with Andrew Fitton taking over ahead of the team's closure.

Fitton retains the rights to the March name and made his application to the FIA early this week, receiving confirmation of his entry on Thursday.

Along with Lola, Prodrive and USF1, MarchF1 has made their entry ahead of the deadline still unsure to what rules they will run in 2010 and await the publication on the 2010 entry list in July 12th.

Source: F1 Live

Update: According to this BBC article, Litespeed have submitted an entry also. Although it is just a brief mention in the second paragraph, and isn't mentioned on any other sites.

DOMENICALI: ENTRIES NOT A CLIMBDOWN

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali says the FOTA squads' decision to only submit 'conditional' entries for the 2010 world championship means they have stayed true to their principles - but added that he hopes their proposals satisfy the FIA's desire for dramatic cost cuts.

Several teams, including Ferrari, had threatened to withhold their 2010 entries in a disagreement over the FIA's plans for a voluntary budget cap next season, before placing entries in time for yesterday's deadline subject to a new Concorde Agreement being signed and a modified version of the 2009 rules applying next year.

"It's very simple," said Domenicali. "The nine teams - Williams membership having been suspended - that currently make up FOTA, have put in entries for the 2010 championship that will only be valid if the Concorde Agreement is signed and if the regulations will be those currently in use, but modified as per FOTA's suggestions.

"The action taken yesterday is completely in keeping with Ferrari's principles, as stated at the Main Board meeting on 12 May and with those of FOTA."

He emphasised that the decision did not mean that the Formula One Teams' Association accepted the FIA's budget cap vision.

"Absolutely not," said Domenicali. "The request to make the 2009 regulations the starting point, means there will be no budget cap."

But Domenicali believes that FOTA's latest cost-cutting plans will be sufficient to achieve the FIA's goals without budget caps being necessary.

"The FIA wants to significantly reduce costs with two objectives: to stop any more existing teams from quitting the sport and to allow for the eventual entry of new teams," he said.

"Both these targets can be met: costs will be considerably reduced and, at the same time, there will be considerable efforts made by the current competitors in Formula 1 to stay in the sport."

He added that he would if the latest compromise proposal was accepted, it should not be seen as a victory for FOTA.

"If this happens and I really hope it does, I would prefer to say that Formula 1 is the winner: it will have kept its main characteristics of technological and sporting competition, it will have been assured of stability in the regulations and the long term commitment of the participants," Domenicali said.

"This is what FOTA has always wanted: to work alongside the FIA and the Commercial Rights Holder for a healthy and prosperous Formula 1."

SOURCE: Autosport

WURZ SET TO LEAD TEAM SUPERFUND INTO F1

Former Formula 1 driver Alex Wurz has lodged an entry in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship with a new start-up operation called Team Superfund, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The former Williams, McLaren and Benetton racer, will become team principal of the new outfit, which is set to be funded by Austrian business tycoon Christian Baha - the founder and owner of the investment company Superfund. The team's cars will be powered by the standard-specification Cosworth engine.

Superfund joins Prodrive, Lola, Campos Meta1 and Team US F1 as one of several new ventures seeking to enter the sport following the FIA's plan to introduce budget caps to F1 for 2010.

AUTOSPORT understands that Superfund has been in serious discussions with the FIA already, that planning for the project is at an advanced stage, and that it has been in contact with key personnel. The team is waiting until it has secured its entry before it begins acquiring assets and staff however.

Superfund is also understood to be awaiting the outcome of talks between the governing body and the Formula One Teams' Association over proposals for existing teams to assist new outfits before it decides on how to structure the operation.

It is believed that Wurz would prefer to align the team with an existing constructor based in the UK, perhaps renting space, facilities and staff from its factory, while Superfund takes time to build-up its own headquarters, possibly based on existing resources in Austria. This would also give the new team an opportunity to gain essential experience from existing expertise.

It is understood however that finances are already in place for Superfund to create a team from the ground up if necessary.

Baha, who is known to be a huge motorsport fan, has sponsored F1 teams and junior series in the past and came close to setting up a Superfund category of his own earlier in the decade.

Wurz retired from Formula 1 racing at the end of 2007 with Williams, though he spent last year as test and reserve driver for Honda and has stayed on the team's roster since it became Brawn.

The 34-year-old Austrian is expected to continue racing for Peugeot in sportscars and will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours next month.

SOURCE: Autosport

March is one of a number of teams that has lodged entries for F1. Among its rivals for entries are Prodrive, Lola, Team Superfund, Team US F1, Litespeed, Epsilon Euskadi and Campos Meta1.Autosport

Those teams in bold added to the list. That's now 8 new entries, and with Williams also confirmed, that's 9 official entries with 9 conditional entries. 18 teams vying for13 spaces, so five have to go unhappy right now.

RML DECIDES AGAINST 2010 F1 ENTRY

RML has put its Formula 1 aspirations on hold after opting not to submit an entry for the 2010 world championship, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

The team, which runs Chevrolet's World Touring Car Championship squad and has a long history of success in sportscar racing, had been seriously evaluating an entry but opted not to do so amid uncertainty about the 2010 budget cap regulations.

The team, which had planned to use Cosworth engines, issued a statement to AUTOSPORT saying that it is continuing to monitor the situation with a view to a possible future entry.

"The recent uncertainty regarding the details of the application of the budget cap and participation of the other teams and manufacturers has meant that we were not in a position to lodge an entry prior to the 29th May deadline," said the statement.

"Nevertheless, RML remain open to participating in Formula 1 in the future and will monitor developments closely. In the meantime, we wish to express our appreciation for the efforts of the FIA and Formula One Management to create the conditions for a new approach to Grand Prix racing and secure the future of the sport."

Despite deciding against an F1 entry, RML believes that the regulations could have made it possible for it to step in and run credibly in F1 and that it was an attractive commercial proposition for sponsors.

"During the last 10 weeks, RML Group have evaluated the exciting opportunity offered by the FIA to potential new Formula 1 entrants, and prepared an application to join the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2010," said the statement.

"Our analysis indicated that the technical and financial regulations as published by the FIA on 30 April were extremely well-suited to our organisation, whose attributes have attracted many motor manufacturers to partner with RML over the past 25 years and yielded numerous international and national sportscar, touring car, and rally championships," said the statement.

"In this process, we also enjoyed significant interest from prospective partners attracted by the FIA's proposed changes."

SOURCE: Autosport

HOWETT: UNITY WILL MAKE F1 STRONGER

Toyota F1 president John Howett believes Formula 1 will emerge from the dispute between the teams and the FIA as a much stronger sport, provided the governing body accepts the conditions attached to the FOTA teams' entries for 2010.

Every F1 team has submitted an entry for next year's world championship, but all those apart from Williams have entered under the condition that FOTA's terms are met. The terms include scrapping the proposed budget cap and two-tier system, and ensuring the regulations remain largely the same as those in use this year.

Howett, who is also vice chairman of FOTA, insists that the unity shown by the teams will make F1 stronger in the long run.

"As everyone involved in Formula 1 knows, it has been a long and challenging process," he said. "If the conditions attached to our entry are accepted, I believe Formula 1 will be the winner.

"It has been extremely gratifying to see the unprecedented level of unity within FOTA. Naturally, we are all competing on the track but we all recognised and acted upon the need for cooperation to ensure a viable future for Formula 1 as we know it.

"The constructive and open atmosphere within the organisation gives me great hope for the future health of Formula 1."

He reaffirmed Toyota's desire to commit to F1, but says the manufacturer will stick by FOTA's call for its conditions to be met.

"We have consistently said we want to continue to participate in Formula 1, and if our conditional entry is accepted we will commit to the sport until at least the end of the 2012 season. If and when that happens, the unfounded rumours surrounding our future should stop.

"Toyota has, like the other FOTA teams, submitted a conditional entry. Firstly we need a new Concorde Agreement to be signed by all parties before 12 June to ensure proper governance. And secondly the 2010 regulations must be based on those we have this year with modifications which FOTA has proposed."

Howett also confirmed that FOTA has proposed its own cost cutting measures and will not accept a budget cap for 2010, but still welcomes the addition of new teams into F1.

"There is no budget cap contained within the FOTA proposals for 2010 regulations," Howett said. "FOTA has proposed a sensible method of controlling expenditure which can be managed in a very simple, practical manner while avoiding external and potentially costly auditing mechanisms.

"We have put forward a comprehensive document of proposals for the 2010 regulations which we believe will allow Formula 1 to prosper.

"We are happy to see new teams, but we made it clear from the start that everybody has to compete under the same rules. Cost reduction was one of FOTA's founding principles and we have reduced the costs of leasing engines and transmissions by over 50 per cent, with further significant savings contained within our proposed 2010 regulations.

"These include limits on aerodynamic development, restrictions on the use of exotic materials and prohibition of some costly technical activities such as wheel rim heating, which don't add to the spectacle. We have proposed many effective measures to reduce the cost of entry to, and participation in, Formula 1."

SOURCE: Autosport

BUTTON: BIG TEAMS SHOULD STAY

Formula 1 driver Jenson Button says he hopes famous names like Ferrari decide to stay on in the sport.

Speaking at the Glamour Awards, Button said: "Without the top teams in F1 it'd be a very different situation and for me I'd love for the big teams to stay."

He added: "Hopefully they'll sort everything out and we'll be racing next year with the full grid."

Some established teams have been considering leaving because of proposals to limit spending to £40m.

The FIA, the organisation that runs F1, thinks it will keep the sport going through the financial crisis and encourage new teams to get involved.

Last week the main teams said they would stay on - for the 2010 season at least. What will happen after that is unclear.

Button, who's streaking ahead in the drivers' standings with five wins, also talked about his sensational start to the season.

"It's been a great feeling this year (crossing the finishing line), most of the time I've been the first one to cross it.

"It's been a good season - the last couple of seasons have been very difficult. The team has done a great job this winter. It's such a turn around, so I've very proud of all of them."

Meanwhile, current champ Lewis Hamilton has struggled with his McLaren car in 2009, only picking up nine points in six races.

But despite the dip in form, Button said he's still looking forward to some close battles with the 24-year-old.

"To get to Formula 1 initially is a challenge and Lewis is a world champion. He's achieved a lot in Formula 1 in a very short space of time - so well done to him

"Hopefully we'll be in equipment in the future where we can race together."

The two Brits will have another chance to go head-to-head on Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix. Practice for the race begins on Friday.

SOURCE: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

What's that you say? Not enough teams? Here's another:

N.Technology submits F1 application 

MSC Organization Ltd, the company that owns the N.Technology racing team and the International Formula Master championship, has submitted an application to join the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship.

The entry has been requested under the N.Technology banner, the team that ran the works Alfa Romeos three consecutive European Touring Car titles from 2001-03 and, more recently, finished third in the WTCC standings in three successive seasons from 2005-07.

The organisation also created the Formula Master series, which has supported the WTCC since 2007.

The team's personnel includes Eurosport CEO Angelo Codignoni, N.Technology team founders Mauro Sipsz and Monica Bregoli, technical director Andrea Adamo and former Trident Racing managing director Alessandro Alunni Bravi.

N.Technology joins Prodrive, Lola, USF1, Team Superfund, Epsilon-Euskadi, Campos Meta 1 and Litespeed on the list of new teams to have confirmed their applications for a place in Formula 1 next year.

The team already has deals in place with potential partners should its application be successful, but no announcements will be made before the list of entrants is confirmed on June 12.

Source: Autosport

START YOUR OWN CHAMPIONSHIP, MOSLEY TELLS FOTA

FIA president Max Mosley has indicated that the governing body is not about to bow to demands being placed on it by Formula 1's current teams about their entry to the 2010 championship.

Nine of the sport's current competitors submitted their entries to next year's championship on the condition that a new Concorde Agreement was signed by June 12 and that next year's cost-cutting rule changes are abandoned in favour of their preferred regulations.

However, speaking to Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, Mosley has made it clear that it is unlikely a Concorde Agreement can be put together in such a short time frame - and he has suggested the rebel teams go off and set up their own championship if they are unhappy.

"A Concorde Agreement which one receives so late can't be signed by June 12," Mosley was quoted as saying.

"We now have a conflict and we will see who succeeds in the end. I say to them: If you want to draw up your own rules, then you can organise your own championship. But we have the Formula 1 championship.

"We draw up the rules for that. We have been doing that for 60 years and we will continue doing so."

With a whole host of new teams having submitted entries to next year's championship, there are no shortage of competitors who can fill the grid if current teams do not wish to compete.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said last week that if the conditions laid down by FOTA's nine members were not accepted, then their entries would be invalid.

SOURCE: Autosport

AND NOW WE'RE ON 20 - BRABHAM NAME OWNER SUBMITS F1 ENTRY

The Brabham name could return to Formula 1 next year after a German businessman confirmed he had used the moniker in an entry he had lodged to the 2010 world championship.

Franz Hilmer, who bought the assets of the defunct Super Aguri outfit last year, has tied up with former staff from the Leafield-based outfit to try and compete in F1 next year.

In a statement issued on Thursday, it was confirmed that Hilmer plans to link up with the previously talked about Formtech company to run under cost cap regulations next year.

"The Brabham Grand Prix team has the pleasure to announce its application as a 'Cost Cap Formula 1 Team' for the FIA 2010 Formula 1 World Championship," explained the statement.

"We appreciate the FIA rules for cost capped F1 teams and are convinced that the budget limitation is a contemporary obligation, and will effect a revitalisation of the Formula 1 World Championship.

"We would be happy to enter into Formula 1 as a Cost Cap Team and to meet the challenge under the new rules."

The team's technical director will be Mark Preston, who had a similar role for Super Aguri. The outfit will also be based at the team's former Leafield headquarters.

Brabham claims that it has already secured a majority of its sponsorship requirements to compete from 2010 to 2012.

SOURCE: Autosport

NOW ANOTHER TWIST TO THE STORY - A LEGAL CASE ENSUES!

The family of three-time world champion Sir Jack Brabham has moved to distance itself from the recently-announced attempt to return the surname to Formula 1.

Brabham Grand Prix, set up by Formtech founder Franz Hilmer with ex-Super Aguri man Mark Preston as technical director, revealed this morning that it had lodged an entry for the 2010 F1 world championship.

But Brabham Enterprises Limited released a statement this afternoon saying that it is ready to take legal advice over the use of the name for the team.

The statement read: "Sir Jack Brabham and the Brabham family have expressed their surprise at the recent news reporting that an entry has been submitted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship by Formtech with the intention of operating as Brabham Grand Prix Limited.

"The family would like to make it clear that they are in no way involved with Brabham Grand Prix Limited and received no consultation regarding the company's plans to resurrect their historic name in Formula One.

"The family is taking legal advice and will take necessary steps to protect their name, reputation and its goodwill."

SOURCE: Autosport

F1 TEAMS SEEK SOLUTION, NOT BREAKAWAY SERIES

Formula 1's current teams remain wholly committed to finding a solution to their dispute with the FIA over the future of the sport, despite suggestions from Max Mosley that they should go off and do their own series.

With no solution yet in sight in the row over a £40 million budget cap for next year, the nine members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) are awaiting a response from the FIA about the conditions they laid down for them to enter next year's championship.

They want a Concorde Agreement signed by next week, plus the current plans for 2010 regulation changes to be abandoned, in favour of their own proposals. The FIA is due to reveal the 2010 entrants on June 12.

Although the teams have not yet had an official response from the FIA about the conditions of their entry, Mosley suggested in an interview with Motorsport Aktuell that if FOTA was unhappy with the proposed rules it should form a breakaway championship.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen made it clear in Turkey on Thursday, however, that FOTA was far more interested in reaching a deal with the FIA than going off and doing its own series.

"We are now really committed to find a solution with the FIA to go forward together," he explained. "That is all I want to say at this point of time."

Theissen said that FOTA did not have any plans to meet this weekend to discuss the situation, although it would do so if the FIA responded.

"We would be ready to sit down immediately," he explained.

Although there have been some causes for optimism in the past week that the teams and the FIA were heading for a solution, Theissen was more cautious about the chances of the matter getting sorted by next week.

"I said after the meeting in Monaco that the situation is difficult, it is critical and it is not solved yet, and the same applies today," he said.

Theissen also revealed that the decision by FOTA to lodge conditional entries was suggested to them by Mosley.

"When we had the meeting with Max [Mosley] in Monaco, it was his idea to put in a conditional entry," he said.

SOURCE: Autosport

FORCE INDIA LODGES UNCONDITIONAL ENTRY

Force India has become the second team to break away from the hardline stance of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) and lodge an unconditional entry for next year's championship, the team confirmed on Friday.

Following a day of speculation about whether Force India would stand firm in its alliance with FOTA's conditional block-entry to next year's championship, the outfit announced in Turkey that it had been forced because of 'commercial obligations' to go it alone and review its conditional application.

Although the decision means that eight current teams are holding out on entering F1 only if they are happy with the regulations, and a new Concorde Agreement is in place, Force India insisted that its decision was not a snub at FOTA.

A team statement said: "While the Force India team is broadly in agreement with the FOTA objectives, commercial obligations have demanded that Force India review its conditional entry jointly submitted by FOTA on deadline day.

"This has been done today with full transparency between all parties. The details of the team's position will be discussed between Dr. Vijay Mallya and FOTA vice-chairman John Howett tomorrow. No further comment will be made until those discussions have taken place."

The decision by Williams and Force India means that those teams could be the only current outfits that are granted an entry to the 2010 championship when the decision is made next week by the FIA about which teams to accept.

FOTA's remaining members have said that they will remain united in their decision about plans for 2010 - meaning that either all of them or none of them will enter next year.

Toyota F1 president John Howett, who is vice-chairman of FOTA, said on Friday that Force India would now probably join Williams in being suspended from the teams' organization.

"It is likely they may be suspended," explained Howett. "I haven't really had the opportunity to speak to Vijay directly, but he has committed in accordance with FOTA a conditional entry and apparently, due to commercial issues, totally unrelated to another team or support, they felt obliged because of other binding legal activities due to funding or other issues, they needed to submit an official entry.

"He will be here tomorrow and I will speak to him, and I have to say it is the intention of FOTA to suspend them based on a face-to-face discussion with Vijay. But he has confirmed to me through Bob Fearnley that he is totally supportive and committed to FOTA."

SOURCE: Autosport

FORCE INDIA FACING FOTA SUSPENSION

Force India is facing suspension from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) amid claims that the outfit has lodged, or is about to lodge, its own official entry to next year's championship.

With Williams having already been suspended for going it alone and entering the 2010 championship, FOTA vice-chairman John Howett said in Turkey on Friday that Force India would face the same punishment if team owner Vijay Mallya confirms that his team has also signed up.

The nine current members of FOTA have lodged a block entry for next year with conditions that a new Concorde Agreement is signed and current planned regulations for 2010 are scrapped.

Although Mallya is not due to arrive in Istanbul until tomorrow, FOTA vice chairman John Howett confirmed that action against the team would only be taken when he had spoken to his fellow team principal face-to-face.

"It is likely they may be suspended," explained Howett. "I haven't really had the opportunity to speak to Vijay directly, but he has committed in accordance with FOTA a conditional entry and apparently, due to commercial issues, totally unrelated to another team or support, they felt obliged because of other binding legal activities due to funding or other issues, they needed to submit an official entry.

"He will be here tomorrow and I will speak to him, and I have to say it is the intention of FOTA to suspend them based on a face-to-face discussion with Vijay. But he has confirmed to me through Bob Fearnley that he is totally supportive and committed to FOTA."

SOURCE: Autosport