What Fresh Hell?

Candy ASS.

After weeks of speculation, the sport’s governing body today published the much-anticipated entry list for the 2010 season which does feature the 'rebel' Formula One teams. However, the struggle for power in the sport is far from over.Entries for next season had to be submitted by May 29th and a number of potentially new teams took the opportunity of promised lower budgets and filed entries along with incumbents Williams and Force India. The Formula One Teams’ Association however also submitted a block ‘conditional’ entry with demands that the 2009 regulations carry over into next season. In addition the team alliance requested that the Concorde Agreement – the commercial contract that ties the FIA, Formula One Management and the teams together – be signed off by today. Differences regarding FIA President Max Mosley's budget capping plans were also on the table. Today the FIA published the entry list and it does feature Williams and Force India as expected, as well as Ferrari and the two Red Bull-owned teams. The FIA claim that the latter three teams have an agreement already in place to race in the series next season, something disputed by the teams themselves.In addition, the other five FOTA members (McLaren Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota and Brawn GP) have been granted a place on the 2010 calendar provided the demands placed on the FIA are either settled or dropped by next Friday."These five teams have submitted conditional entries," a statement from the governing body read. "The FIA has invited them to lift those conditions following further discussions to be concluded not later than close of business on Friday 19 June."In addition to the incumbent teams, Campos Grand Prix, Manor Grand Prix and the US F1 Team have each been granted one of the 13 available slots on the 2010 grid, all with Cosworth power.As predicted by many, the ball is now back in FOTA's court and they now have the choice of dropping their demands on the FIA, reaching an agreement between all parties, or leaving the series and forming their own championship."The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the 2010 Championship has been increased to 26, two being entered by each competitor," indicated the FIA statement.

"Pending completion of the discussions referred to above, further due diligence is currently taking place on other potential entries."In other words, the FIA is keeping additional new teams on hand in case the 'rebel' teams decide to leave Formula One. If any vacancies should appear, they will therefore be quickly filled.Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso meanwhile will be again consulting with their respective lawyers to see if the FIA do in fact have a standing contract for them to race in 2010.Ferrari has issued a statement indicating that it will not participate in the 2010 championship "until the conditions of its entry are satisfied" and indicated that the FIA has listed the team as an unconditional entrant despite "previous written notice to the FIA not to do so."Red Bull Racing released a statement as well, declaring that it wished "to make it clear that its entry was submitted as a conditional entry, consistent with those of all other FOTA members."Scuderia Toro Rosso's statement was identical to Red Bull Racing's.

FIA 2010 Formula One entry list:
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO - Ferrari
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO - STR TBA (no engine)
RED BULL RACING - RBR Renault
AT&T WILLIAMS - Williams Toyota
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM - Force India Mercedes
CAMPOS GRAND PRIX - Campos Cosworth
MANOR GRAND PRIX - Manor Cosworth
TEAM US F1 - Team US F1 Cosworth
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES * - McLaren Mercedes
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM * - BMW Sauber
RENAULT F1 TEAM * - Renault
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING * - Toyota
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM * - Brawn TBA (no engine)