Ferrari has reacted angrily to the FIA’s decision to include it in the 2010 entry list as a confirmed entrant and insists it will not take part in next year’s championship unless its conditions are met.
The governing body published the long-awaited list of successful 2010 applicants on Friday morning, splitting the 13 teams into a group of eight whose entries have been accepted unconditionally, and five others who have been given a week to drop their conditions or lose their slots.
Ferrari was incensed to find its name in the former category given that it had attached the same conditions to its application as the five FOTA-aligned teams who have been given a provisional status.
The FIA’s action was widely anticipated since it has maintained throughout that Ferrari is contracted to Formula 1 until 2012 under the Concorde Agreement it signed in 2005.
But the Maranello squad remains adamant that this contract is no longer valid and has issued a statement vowing to disregard the unconditional entry bestowed upon it.
“Ferrari shall not take part in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship until the conditions of its entry are satisfied,” the statement said.
“Following publication of the list of entries for the 2010 Formula One World Championship, which includes Ferrari as an unconditional entrant, Ferrari wishes to state the following:
“Ferrari submitted on 29 May 2009 an entry to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship which is subject to certain conditions.
“As of today, these conditions have not been met.
“Notwithstanding this and despite Ferrari's previous written notice to the FIA not to do so, the FIA has included Ferrari as a unconditional participant in next year's Formula One World Championship.
“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.”
Ferrari claims its contract with the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone was in effect torn up when the governing body unilaterally forced through rule changes for next season, bypassing the established forum of the Formula One Commission.
Red Bull also signed agreements with the FIA and FOM in 2005 and its two teams were listed in the ‘confirmed’ group even though they too submitted conditional entries.
Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso have issued identical statements saying they remain committed to the Formula One Teams’ Association and stand by its conditions.
RBR said: “Following the FIA’s publication of the entry list for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, Red Bull Racing would like to make it clear that its entry was submitted as a conditional entry, consistent with those of all other FOTA members.
“Red Bull Racing remains committed to FOTA and fully endorses all its principles.”