Zoom Europe-based carmakers announce their intentions

Friday saw the world of F1 on the verge of losing the majority of its established names with the eight members of the Formula One Teams Association promising to continue their fight against the new regulations imposed by FIA President Max Mosley, set to come into effect next year.

The FIA has released the entry list for the 2010 championship. Of the 13 teams appearing on the roster, three are new outfits, two are teams which have unconditionally accepted the new regulations (Williams and Force India), while the eight remaining teams are FOTA members.

Of the eight Formula One Teams Association members, five are listed as conditional entrants (Toyota, Renault, BMW, McLaren and Brawn), with Mosley keeping them on until Friday June 19th by which time an agreement must have been reached or they will be removed.

The three other 'rebel' teams are Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso. The FIA added them as unconditional entrants, claiming that said teams have contractual obligations which force them into entering the 2010 season. The three teams quickly issued statements declaring the contrary and reaffirmed their stand with the other FOTA members.

On the table are Mosley's controversial €45 million (US $62m) budget cap (excluding certain salaries and marketing expenses), an amended Concorde Agreement offering an increased portion of F1's revenues to the teams, and a greater role for the teams in the governance of the sport.

Negotiations between all parties have been at a near-standstill for weeks and the crisis has consequently dragged on.

With the possibility of a FOTA-launched breakaway series increasing as a likely scenario, a series which would feature car manufacturers and well-known drivers while F1 presents a majority of new and mostly unknown entrants, the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association (ACEA) has decided to throw its full weight behind the 'rebel' teams.

"Today, the members of the Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association discussed the current situation prevailing in Formula One, and have concluded that the current governance system cannot continue," the ACEA press release begins.

"ACEA has come to the conclusion that the FIA needs a modernised and transparent governance system and processes, including the revision of its constitution, to ensure the voice of its members, worldwide motorsport competitors and motorists are properly reflected."

"The ACEA members support the activities and objectives of the Formula One Teams Association to establish stable governance, clear and transparent rules which are common to all competitors to achieve cost reductions including a proper attribution of revenues to the F1 teams, in order to deliver a sustainable attractive sport for the worldwide public," the statement reads.

While supporting the FOTA members' wish to work out an agreement with the FIA, the ACEA let it be understood that it is also willing to support other initiatives which would permit the 'rebel' Formula One teams from performing their art in other areas.

In other words, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association indicated it is ready to pull out its teams from Formula One unless a satisfactory agreement is reached between the FOTA members and FIA President Mosley.

"Unless these objectives are met, the BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Toyota along with the other teams are determined to find an alternative way to practice this sport in a manner which provides clarity, certainty of rules and administration, and a fair allocation of revenues to the competing teams," the ACEA statement concludes.

Daniel BASTIEN
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