Zoom A breakaway championship looking increasingly possible for the 2010 season

Mario Theissen on Thursday insisted the political situation in the sport is still 'very critical'.

FIA president Max Mosley is engaged in an intense standoff with nine of the current teams, but after meetings two weeks ago many players departed Monaco claiming optimism.

But BMW Motorsport Director Theissen said in Istanbul that nothing significant has developed since Monaco.

The Formula One Teams' Association members have submitted a block 'conditional' entry to the 2010 championship but stipulate that the 2009 rules must be used, thereby eliminating Mosley's demands for optional cost caps next season.

Few believe that Mosley will back down and allow the FOTA members to dictate the rules of the sport and the situation is likely to escalate further on June 12th, when - presumably - the FIA publishes a 2010 entry list that does not feature the FOTA teams.

"After the last meetings in Monaco I was the most cautious. Nearly everyone was saying only very positive things," the German is quoted as saying by the SID news agency. "But my point of view was different, and I continue to stand by that."

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM