Patronise F1

The reaction from all sides has been as mixed as it has been pompous. Some teams are unhappy, some are delighted, and some are threatening all sorts of recriminations. The latest reactions coming from all corners can be found here.

The Formula One Teams' Association was unsurprisingly upset at the efforts from the FIA to divide and conquer their number, with Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso given unconditional entries due to an earlier agreement, and the others left with a deadline of Friday 19th June to drop their conditions over rule changes or be bumped off the grid.

FOTA have written to the World Motor Sport Council to complain, somewhat hysterically, that the entries for Ferrari and the Red Bull teams were made "against their will". The letter to the WMSC begs for the council to help solve the crisis, or else the FOTA members may be forced to seek "alternative solutions".

"All of these teams are united in their concerns about the present situation and are deeply worried about the crisis that Formula 1 now faces, a crisis that appears to be self generated," the letter overdramatically read, "The teams wish to find a swift solution to the situation, but in case this can not be done, they will reluctantly have to seek alternative solutions which protect them."

Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Ferrari have all insisted that despite what the FIA claim, their entries remain merely provisional, and if the rules are not changed they will not race. They insist that the deal made in the past that the FIA are now using to add their unconditional name to the grid is no longer valid because the FIA has breached the agreement.

"Ferrari submitted on 29 May 2009 an entry to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship which is subject to certain conditions," a dry and pointless statement read, "As of today, these conditions have not been met...for the avoidance of any doubt, Ferrari reaffirms that it shall not take part in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship under the regulations adopted by the FIA in violation of Ferrari's rights under a written agreement with the FIA."

Red Bull backed that statement up, saying that it's own entry was still provisional, and that the team: "remains committed to FOTA and fully endorses all its principles." Toro Rosso released an identical statement that they'd got from Red Bull and changed the font colour of slightly.

Not everyone was unhappy though, Williams said that they were "pleased" to see their name on the list, and Sir Frank affirmed that: "2010 will be my 42nd consecutive season in Formula 1. We are already designing the main elements of next year's FW32 which will build on the useful step forward taken with the FW31."

Meanwhile Cosworth said that they were delighted to have been allowed to supply the three new backmarkers with some crap spec engines for 2010, saying that: "Cosworth is proud not only to be able to provide a solution that will deliver the performance needed by these teams to compete in this most technologically challenging sport, but also to extend its long association with Formula 1 as a truly independent provider of competitive motive power."

Prodrive boss Dave Richards, meanwhile, sobbed irrelevantly about his own team not making the grid for next year, saying that "We are naturally disappointed by the FIA's decision not to include Prodrive in the preliminary entry list for 2010 as we believe we have the resources and set-up to be competitive in Formula 1 and would make a positive contribution to the sport." Having been rejected for the second time in three years, it remains to be seen whether he will finally take the hint.

But the FIA, who claimed that in total they received 15 entries from new teams, will remain in discussions with a number of the unsuccessful entrants should the FOTA teams fail to drop their conditions. "Team Lotus" (neé Litespeed) said in a statement that it was "disappointed" to have been left off the 2010 grid, but said that: "We understand that in the event that any of the teams listed do not agree the terms imposed by the FIA, we are short-listed to fill any spots which become available. Therefore we remain in close contact with the FIA and will work with them to ensure that Team Lotus is selected in the event that any spaces become available in the next seven days."

Lola and Team Superfund are two more teams that remain on the FIA's shortlist should the FOTA teams decide to play silly buggers. "The Lola F1 Team is not currently listed as an entrant, but will continue to remain in discussion with the FIA as a potential new entry until the extended deadline of 19 June, 2009," a turgid statement from Lola read, while Team Superfund's posterboy Alex Wurz said that: "The FIA asked Team Superfund to be in a reserve position, and they will keep on talking to the team and then a decision will be made."

He also claimed not to be bothered about the stupid sport anyway, saying that he had plenty to keep him busy without a team to run: "This year I am still doing the Peugeot and I am under contract with Brawn. I have my company to run, so I am pretty busy anyway," the Austrian shrugged. Plus he's just bought a load of books to read his way through and he's thinking of building an extension on his house. Possibly.

The FIA released a series of pre-determined Q&As after the list was announced, and felt very proud of itself indeed for helping new teams enter with cost-cutting rules. "Formula One is a fantastic prospect and with the financial reforms to lower the barrier to entry to realistic levels it is good to see such a strong market for new teams. This exercise has demonstrated that the only reason there have been vacancies on the F1 grid for many years was the excessive cost of participation." The statement pompously read.

Toyota's John Howett apparently spoke for FOTA as a whole in saying that the eight (for there are still eight, despite what the FIA may think), when he said that "sensible governance" would be a key part of their intentions to commit to the 2010 season and beyond. "What we want primarily is a sensible basis of governance, so that the regulations are not changed willy nilly, that there in involvement of the teams in a proper process adopted, and that process is not deviated from," Howett screamed on BBC radio after his team was one of five given seven days to commit unconditionally to the sport or get out, adding that: "And secondly we do feel that there is a risk of involving financial forensic control in the sporting regulations and deciding a championship."

Adrian Campos spoke about his happiness at gaining a spot on the F1 grid. "It's a very special day. We will be on the grid with a lot of dignity," he said, somewhat optimistically, "I have been in this sport for 30 years. It's basically what I have done my whole life. Six years ago we tried, but when I talked about it with Ecclestone he said 'rubbish'. However, now he has given me his full backing, and I want to thank him and Max Mosley."

Meanwhile, US F1 co-founder Peter Windsor has spoken out about his team being chosen for the 2010 grid, saying that: "I was thinking how small I feel relative to this massive sport and all the talk going on - the big names and the small names." as he genuflected in the general direction of the current teams.

He went on to say that "[For] everything this sport has meant to me for the last 50-odd years of my life, finally to see the name of the team which I am lucky to be involved in on the FIA entry list is quite a humbling moment. I know that sounds a bit pretentious, but that is how I feel. I have got a lot of time and history in this sport and this is a very big day for me."

Meanwhile, the final new team for 2010, the surprise package Manor Motorsport, sent out some soundbites as well from team boss John Booth. "It was always our intention to keep under the radar, so if you think something is going to happen and then it doesn't, you don't look like such a pillock!" he arfed at Autosport, when asked about where the ruddy heck they came from, going on to say that: "I'd expect it to be a good car straight out of the box. I don't expect to win races immediately, don't get me wrong, but I expect to surprise a few people."

Epsilon Euskadi are still in with a chance of the grid, should FOTA teams start to drop out. The team owner Joan Villadelprat expressed his surprise at the fact that teams like Manor and Campos were picked ahead of him, saying: "I'm a bit surprised because I thought we were fighting against Aston Martin, and Lola, and companies with a pedigree, if you will."

He re-affirmed his surprise by continuing: "I'm a little surprised, but I'm still optimistic because I have received a letter from the FIA saying that this is all provisional and that the final list will be on the 19th, and to keep on working and keep on sending the data that they will request, and that we are in a good position."

FOTA's final say for the day was of a united front, defending the Red Bull, STR and Ferrari position by saying that: "In response to the erroneous statement made today by FIA, the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) wishes to underline that the entries of all its members - excluding the temporarily suspended Force India and Williams - have been submitted to the FIA as conditional entries."