Teams cannot miss races, FIA declare

The sport’s governing body today moved to clarify reports - citing both Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt - with regard to teams having the option of missing up to three Grand Prix without fear of penalty.

The FIA claim that each of the 13 teams selected to compete in the 2010 championship must in fact enter each Grand Prix.

"Following recent reports on the interpretation of clauses in the Concorde Agreement concerning the concept of a team’s ‘participation’ in the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA wishes to make the following clarification," began a statement.

"From a sporting and regulatory point of view, each team that has registered for the Championship is obliged to take part in every event of the season. Any failure to take part, even for just one Championship event, would constitute an infringement both of the Concorde Agreement and the FIA Regulations."

It had been suggested that USF1 and Campos could in theory miss the first three rounds of the championship and join the series in China in mid-April.

The much-needed clarification by the FIA puts to an end such suggestions.