FIA: Teams Will Have to Take Part in Each GP

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) decided to issue a clear statement regarding the possibility of one or more teams not making the season opening round of the Bahrain Grand Prix. After the very president of the FIA Jean Todt hinted that the teams facing financial problems may be exempted from as many as 3 grands prix through the duration of the 2010 season, the ruling body stated otherwise.

According to the document, no team that is currently part of the 2010 Formula One entry list and has signed the Concorde Agreement last year is allowed to miss a single race this year. Which is nothing short of bad news for Campos Grand Prix and (probably) US F1, who are currently looking for money to sustain their operations in F1.

“Following recent reports on the interpretation of clauses in the Concorde Agreement concerning the concept of a Team's ‘participation’ in the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA wishes to make the following clarification.”

“From a sporting and regulatory point of view, each Team that has registered for the Championship is obliged to take part in every event of the season. Any failure to take part, even for just one Championship event, would constitute an infringement both of the Concorde Agreement and the FIA Regulations,” said the statement from the FIA.

As confirmed by Todt in a recent interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, in case one team doesn't make the grid for 2010, the selection for the vacant seat will be decided by the ruling body. Currently, it is Stefan GP who seems to hold the best chances of taking that vacancy, in case the situation would arise.