F1 Brawling Continues: Mosley Challenges Teams To Form Own Series

FIA PRESIDENT MAX MOSLEY has challenged the Formula One Teams Association to form its own breakaway series if it disapproves of planned rule changes for next season.

While the teams have threatened to withdraw as a block unless the FIA meets its demands, Mosley remains unmoved, stating he will not back down from his decision to introduce a budget cap.

He told Swiss weekly Motorsport Aktuell. "I say (to them), if you want to formulate your own rules, then you can organise your own championship - assuming the rules satisfy the safety requirements. But we have the Formula One world championship and we make the rules for that.

"We've been doing it for 60 years and we'll continue to do it in the future. Now we have a dispute and we'll see who prevails."

BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen however downplayed Mosley’s claims, saying FOTA doesn’t want to form its own series and remains keen to negotiate a solution with the FIA.

“We are now really committed to find a solution with the FIA to go forward together. That is all I want to say at this point of time,” he said.

Theissen revealed though that the decision to submit a conditional entry by May 29 was actually suggested by Mosley.

"When we had the meeting with Max in Monaco, it was his idea to put in a conditional entry," he said.

With FOTA’s June 12 deadline fast approaching, the sport is in a race against time to secure an agreement or face the biggest crisis in its history.

It is believed the FIA’s decision to stall proceedings has been motivated by the existing contractual arrangements likely to force Ferrari to compete next season.

However, any delays in finalising 2010 entries may prove detrimental to the prospects of any new entries, given there are only nine months remaining until the next Australian Grand Prix.