Mosley Stands Firm, Keeps May 29 Deadline for F1 Teams

FIA president Max Mosley seems to play hard ball when it comes to the May 29 deadline for the 2010 entry list, as he made it very clear that term will not by delayed because of the teams threatening to leave the sport. Not only that, but he expects 3 to 6 teams to skip the late May deadline, therefore risking to not make the series in 2010.

Should that happen, Mosley revealed that those teams will have to pay the additional fines to missing the deadline, or, if the spots will have already been taken, be forced to stay out of the championship. The FIA left room for 3 more teams in F1 starting 2010, but only USGPE and Lola have so far confirmed plans for an F1 entry next year.

“I think that we will probably get anywhere between three and six teams by the deadline, depending. After that they become a late entry and if there is a space they can take it, and if there isn't space they cannot,” said Mosley in an interview with British publication AUTOSPORT.

According to Mosley, the situation is in no danger of being dragged into the winter, as the teams will be forced to make up their mind quickly enough through the 2009 season.

“I'm not sure it will drag on that long, because if you put yourself in their position - they have to make up their minds what they want to do. If they want to continue racing in F1, then they can come and talk. And if they want to go and do something else, then they have got to start making a car,” added the 78-year old Englishman.

His comments for the aforementioned magazine come only days after reiterating his belief that Formula One could go on just as well without historical team Ferrari. The Maranello company announced a potential quit in case the rules for 2010 will be be revised, as did Renault, BMW and Toyota. Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz also expressed his desire not to continue his F1 programme under the current regulations.