Walk-out throws F1 into new chaos

The eight members of FOTA on Wednesday met with the head of the FIA's Sporting Working Group, Charlie Whiting, and the five non-FOTA teams in Williams, Force India and the three new entrants for 2010 in US F1, Campos Meta and Manor Grand Prix. It culminated in the representatives from Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP all walking out, throwing the sport into chaos once more.

Following the meeting at the Nurburgring, FOTA's statement pointed the finger of blame at the FIA, accusing the world governing body of putting "the future of Formula One in jeopardy".

On June 24, following meetings involving FIA president Max Mosley, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo, it appeared peace had broken out after weeks of war.

The FIA agreed to FOTA's financial regulations proposals, shelving plans to introduce a £40million budget cap for next season, as had previously been stipulated.

The FOTA eight were then included on the 2010 entry list, making a 13-team grid as Williams, Force India and the three new teams had previously signed up for next season. Subsequently, the FOTA teams were advised approval of the rules by the other five marques was essential as they were the only entries that had been fully ratified for 2010.

The FOTA teams had been granted entry by the FIA on the basis of an agreement being firmly put in place with the non-FOTA members, and until such time they could only act in an 'observatory' role in any framework discussions. When advised by Whiting on Wednesday they could have no voice in the talks, only to listen, that clearly enraged FOTA, resulting in the walk out and a forthright statement.

"During the course of the meeting, the team managers were informed by Charlie Whiting that contrary to previous agreements, the eight FOTA teams are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations thereof," said FOTA in Wednesday's statement.

"It will be remembered all eight active FOTA members were included on the 'accepted' entry list as endorsed by the FIA World Motor Sport Council and communicated by FIA press statement on June 24.

"In light of these claims, the FOTA representatives requested a postponement of today's meetings."