The FIA has announced that it will institute a new selection process to determine which team will take a potential 13th place on next year’s grid.
The 13th slot is currently vacant after American start-up squad US F1 had to abandon plans to compete due to a funding shortfall and the FIA decided against awarding its entry to the Serbian-backed Stefan GP team that was waiting in the wings.
US F1 had asked the FIA to defer its entry until 2011, but at a World Motor Sport Council meeting in Bahrain on Thursday the governing body instead decided to invite a wider field of candidates to compete for the place.
“The World Council approved the initiation of a new selection process for a potential 13th entry (and reserve entry) to the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship,” said an FIA statement.
The governing body indicated that US F1 could face sanctions for its absence.
“With regard to the US F1 team’s non-participation in the 2010 championship, the World Council mandated the FIA president, in full compliance with the new code of practice for disciplinary matters, to take forward the most appropriate action,” it said.
The World Council also confirmed that Indian Karun Chandhok has been granted the superlicence he needs to make his F1 debut with the new Hispania Racing team in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Meanwhile returning legend Michael Schumacher has been appointed as the drivers’ representative for the Circuits Commission.