Catch-up Week – Week No. 22

As every Monday for a few months now, Motors Inside offers you an exclusive article summarizing the past week’s F1 news. This Monday, June 1st, is no exception to the rule, so here is the essential F1 news from the past week: The highlight last week was the deadline for submitting applications for the 2010 season, set for Friday, the 29th. In the end, 17 teams will compete for what will likely be 13 spots for the next season. The Williams team made headlines by not following the rest of the field and attracted the ire of FOTA (Formula One Teams Association). Finally, with the submission of applications, several other pieces of news concerning 2010 made headlines last week, with the main subjects being Cosworth, the Brawn/Button duo, or Renault.

End of suspense, the 10 teams from 2009 competing for 2010

The past week saw a clear standoff between the FIA and F1 teams, even though the outcome is nothing exceptional. At the beginning of the week, the governing body had warned that it would not extend the application deadline to participate in the 2010 championship. Several reactions followed, including that of Flavio Briatore, Renault’s boss.

Read the article on the registration deadline

There was therefore a very short time frame for the teams to decide their future. Unsurprisingly, late in the day on Friday, May 29, the news breaks: All ten teams currently in the championship are registering for the next season without exception. However, this decision was not easy to make, and the FOTA has certain demands in return. The FIA must now work to prevent an even more serious rebellion.

Read the article announcing the commitment of the 10 teams

Williams, the Ugly Duckling of the FOTA

During this hectic week, one team among the ten currently competing decided not to follow the path of the FOTA. It is Williams, a British team, which from the beginning of the week surprised everyone by deciding to register for 2010 against the will of the other Formula 1 teams. For them, a team of its stature couldn’t afford to exert pressure considering its sponsors or other partners. The FOTA’s reaction was immediate; Williams was temporarily excluded from the association and no longer participated in the numerous discussions on the future of the teams in the sport.

Read the official announcement of Williams’ candidacy

Read the article on Williams’ temporary exclusion from the FOTA

Four more teams join the race!

Last week we announced the candidacy of the Campos and USF1 teams. During the last hours between Friday night and Saturday, two widely reported teams submitted their respective registration requests. These are Prodrive and Lola. In total, 17 teams will be competing to enter the 2010 championship. Knowing Ecclestone’s desire to see as many teams as possible racing, four will not be selected, the bets are open…

Read the article announcing the application submission of Prodrive and Lola

2010, in the Spotlight

While all the teams have submitted their applications for 2010, several other pieces of information have leaked for that same season. For example, four teams would be equipped with the Cosworth single engine. With his current success, Jenson Button would be in talks with Brawn GP to renegotiate his contract and extend it to 2010. Finally, Renault F1 could disappear but return under another name thanks to its acquisition by Flavio Briatore, the current team principal of the French manufacturer. In short, still a lot of uncertainty at this stage of the year.

Read the article announcing the supply of Cosworth engines to four teams

Read the article about Button’s contract negotiation

Read the article about a potential acquisition of Renault F1 by Briatore