Buzzin F1 – Formula One Blog

No Place For Stefan GP As 2010 Teams And Drivers Are Announced

John Williams - Friday 05.03.10, 16:49pm

Despite the stringent tests applied by the FIA when selecting the four new teams to compete in the upcoming 2010 F1 Championship, one of their chosen few US F1 have failed to make the grade and fulfill its obligations to F1, withdrawing their entry at the eleventh hour.

The US F1 team have continually struggled to perform at any level and before the end of 2009 were already talking about missing the opening races.

Instead of stepping in then the FIA have allowed the team to continue going nowhere until their withdrawal. In the meantime Stefan GP have long been campaigning to replace the ill stricken US team and have even received the backing of Bernie Ecclestone.

They have a car that is ready to race and we are led to believe drivers and sponsors in place, but the FIA have rejected the opportunity to fill the race grid for 2010 claiming that it is too late to accept a new entry.

Personally I feel that the FIA have let down the F1 supporters by not giving the place to what appears a well funded team who are ready to race having acquired the race cars from Toyota, following their withdrawal from the series.

Furthermore it appears that another of the teams Hispania F1, the re named Campos outfit are so far behind schedule that although they will make up the numbers at the opening race in Bahrain they have had hardly any chance to test the car and will almost certainly be playing catch up with the pack for the whole season.

In a statement issued by the FIA it said that US F1 had indicated that it would not be in a position to participate in the 2010 F1 Championship, adding; “Having considered the various options, the FIA confirms that it is not possible for a replacement team to be entered for the Championship at this late stage.”

The full entry list for F1 2010 is:

1 Jenson Button (GB) McLaren-Mercedes

2 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes

3 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes

4 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes

5 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault

6 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault

7 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari

8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari

9 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Williams-Cosworth

10 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth

11 Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault