F1's governing body reportedly selected only new teams with no ties to car manufacturers to make their Grand Prix debuts in 2010.
Britain's Daily Telegraph cites disgruntled bosses who missed out in the FIA's selection process as alleging that only a commitment to independent engine supplier Cosworth ensured a spot on next year's grid.
US F1, Manor and Campos, all to be powered by Cosworth, were included on the 2010 entry list, despite more established names including Prodrive and Lola also applying to race.
It is believed some of the rejected teams planned to tie up for engine supplies with Mercedes, Ferrari or Renault, as F1's car manufacturers warred with the FIA about the future of the sport.
"We were told that if we wanted to take up the 2010 grid slot we would have to sign a three-year engine contract with Cosworth," one unsuccessful team applicant told the newspaper.
Another wrote in a letter that he "had a real possibility of obtaining a Renault, Mercedes or Ferrari engine. It was made very clear to me that it was considered a mandatory condition from the powers that be that Cosworth was the engine supplier".
It should be noted that at the time of the 2010 selection process, the car manufacturers including Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Renault and Toyota were all threatening to quit Formula One and race in a rival series.
An FIA spokesman confirmed that the availability of an independent engine supply was a "priority" for the new teams, otherwise "the whole grid would be at the mercy of the car industry and no new team would be able to enter without their permission".
But another disgruntled unsuccessful 2010 applicant alleges the new teams were "hand-picked for political, rather than sport criteria".
Cosworth insists it "in no way, shape or form requested that the FIA make demands on its behalf of potential entries to the Formula One world championship".
Enzo Ferrari was a great man. But he was not a good man. -- Phil Hill
Well, you are right about the news. It is been discussed in the new teams thread. So it would not make sense to repeat comments here.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best ..............................organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)
Disgusting but entirely believable. Knee-Jerk reactions from the FIA are not without precedence. Customer engine deals need greater regulation though, Cosworth are entirely capable and worthy of supplying an F1 team, as are many specialist engine builders, but backroom deals are done with manufacturers that leave independent outfits without a chance. Before I lay into the FIA too heavily I am reserving plenty of spite for the big manufacturers.
If the likes of Toyota can artificially skew the odds of securing an engine deal in their favour I see less of a problem with the FIA doing the same in reverse, although the loss of Prodrive, and perhaps one day Aston Martin is a great shame.
Discontinuing an engine manufacturers ability to offer financial support to a 'Customer' team and have a say in driver selection should be a high priority for the FIA, this is not the way to go about it, but it is certainly easier than confronting a hostile grid about further restrictions on business practices. An engine supplier should be just that, not a talent farm for favoured drivers. Lets have a set maximum price for engines if we must, but for crying out loud let the Dyno sheet do the talking when a privateer team chooses it's engine. Natural selection.
Oh, and Donkstar, thanks for posting this highly relevant article in this thread. I couldn't really give a toss about the new teams since it was announced that Prodrive will not be joining them so it is possible I wouldn't have come across it otherwise.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best ..............................organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)
