Former Formula One world champion and prospective new team owner Jacques Villeneuve(TM) has refused to confirm reports that the FIA have rejected all the potential 13th team bids for 2011, saying that he is yet to hear from the governing body.
Unconfirmed reports emerged earlier this week that the FIA had decided to not grant the vacant 13th grid slot to any of the bidders, choosing instead to leave the slot open for another season.
The report suggested that neither of the remaining bids, the Villeneuve/Durango partnership and Epsilon Euskadi, had met the FIA's new stricter financial tests.
But Villeneuve refused to confirm the reports on Wednesday, saying that he had not heard anything from the governing body concerning his bid.
"We have had no news - positive or negative - from the FIA," Villeneuve told the Canadian publication Rue Frontenac.
"All I know is that we are proud of our bid and we followed the process instituted by the FIA."
He added that: "We have a budget in place for the next three years, and the design of the car is going very well. Phase 1 is nearing completion.
"We have submitted our application and we only need the approval of the FIA for the next phase."
The Canadian driver, who last raced in Formula One in 2006 but has earlier confirmed that he would drive one of the team's cars if they were accepted onto the grid, admitted that the USF1 debacle from last season was contributing to the FIA's stricter tests.
"The memory of the USF1 debacle is still fresh in their minds," Villeneuve mused, "They want to be really sure that the group with the 13th spot will be very solid, and that suits us because we are strong."
He added that he was not concerned at the lateness of the announcement, saying: "After our meeting, they wanted to do due diligence and that's probably why the announcement is a bit late.
"We look forward to the news but we're not panicking - far from it."
As to the current situation at Durango, the former GP2 squad that he has partnered with for his new F1 bid, he added that: "We have barely discussed it, except to say the media is a bit fast on the trigger!
"It's possible the FIA will say no but we have no indication to that effect. Their analytical work is ongoing -- that's all we know."
The destiny of the 13th grid spot could well be announced on Wednesday, with the World Motor Sport Council gathering in Paris to discuss a range of F1 issues.
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