The FIA, the sport’s governing body, have imposed a deadline of Friday for teams to sign up for next year, with Williams the only team on the grid to have so far done so.
The remaining nine teams are all locked in discussions over the best way to proceed. Five of them – including Ferrari – have threatened to quit Formula One unless the 2010 regulations, which include a £40 million budget cap, are radically revised.
There were suggestions last night that Force India may be about to join Williams in confirming their entry, which would be sure to rankle with their fellow FOTA members. Force India owner Vijay Mallya was not present at yesterday’s meeting at a Heathrow hotel but is a strong advocate of the cap.
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Williams paid the price for breaking ranks with FOTA when they were temporarily suspended from the organisation on Wednesday.
Williams chief executive Adam Parr insisted, however, that there were “no bad feelings” between his team and FOTA. Telegraph.co.uk
Williams was unmoved by the furore, making the point that his team was legally contracted to take part in the official formula one world championship until the end of 2012. “Fota’s decision, although regrettable, is understandable,” he said. “However as a racing team and a company whose only business is formula one, with obligations to our partners and employees, submitting our entry to next year’s championship was always unquestionable.”
“In truth Fota has now probably served its purpose as, before today, the teams and the FIA were edging closer to a compromise deal which would meet with the FIA’s approval as a credible way of reducing costs and enhancing the sport’s sustainability,” said one of the sport’s senior insiders. “The suggestion is that the teams agree to a budget cap of €100m for 2010, reducing to €45m in 2011, with one set of technical rules for all competitors.” Guardian.co.uk
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