US F1 asks to miss opening races

Date published : 20 Feb 2010 - 21:45:52

US F1 co-founder Ken Anderson has admitted his team is asking for dispensation to miss the opening grands prix of the 2010 season as it will not be ready in time for Bahrain next month. Rumours about the state of US F1's preparations and finances have become increasingly persistent in recent weeks, and amid hints from Bernie Ecclestone that struggling teams could be allowed to miss three races, Anderson said US F1 was in talks with the FIA about joining the championship late. "We're working with the FIA to clarify how many races we can miss," Anderson told the New York Times. "In an ideal world, we can miss the first four races and show up in Barcelona." He insisted that US F1's situation could rapidly improve subject to some financial discussions currently ongoing, having suffered a setback when a sponsor pulled out before Christmas. "We have a timeline in place that if we get a decision quickly, that triggers funding and we're good to go," Anderson said. "If it takes another week or two to make a decision, it keeps backing up." Despite the idea of teams opting out of some rounds having been floated by Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt in recent interviews, the FIA has also issued a clarification underlining that under current rules teams would be penalised for no-shows. Anderson acknowledged that a financial punishment for US F1 could be a critical blow, but is sure the FIA would still rather help the team make it onto the grid than see it fold. "I guess anything's possible," he said. "But what would be the point of that "Why would they give us a franchise and just, the first time there's a bump in the road, yank it and put it out of business "That's definitely not the message that I'm getting from them. "They want to help us, not shut us down." But he conceded that there could be some truth in suggestions that already-signed driver Jose Maria Lopez might now be looking elsewhere. "I'm sure he's weighing his options as well," Anderson said.