FOTA Sent Letter to Mosley, No Sign Unless 2010 Rules Scrapped

Although the FIA president Max Mosley had argued, earlier last weekend, that a solution for the controversial budget-cap row was in sight, it seems the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) thinks otherwise. As the race in Monaco ended yesterday afternoon, politics are again to make the headlines when talking about Formula One.

Despite Mosley's optimistic comments, it seems the FOTA are quite united in their efforts to scrap the 40M budget cap from the 2010 regulations. According to a report from the GMM news agency, it seems the teams' body sent Mosley a letter in which they inform him that no team will sign a 2010 entry if the FIA does not tear up the 2010 rules.

The 2010 entry list deadline is due to expire on May 29, with the FIA making it very clear that whoever misses it will face financial sanctions. Although there were several teams initially reported to have agreed the FIA rules – Williams, Force India, Brawn GP and even McLaren Mercedes – the new response from the FOTA is as clear as the sky.

The letter from the FOTA was confirmed by Ferrari's boss Stefano Domenicali during the course of this weekend, as the team principal revealed the teams' body is looking for an extension of the 2010 entry list deadline. In addition, the teams are asking for the same rule book as in 2009 for next year, with a solution to the cost capping dilemma to be discussed in the meantime.

“What we have asked is to go back to the rules of this year and then see together what we can do in order to make changes for next year,” said Domenicali.

The teams met in the Renault motorhome during the course of the Monaco GP weekend to discuss the two-tier element that comes along with the budget cap proposal from the FIA.