F1: Williams Submits Entry For 2010 Season

THE FORMULA ONE Teams Association’s bid to present a united front in sending an ultimatum to FIA President Max Mosley has received a blow after Williams submitted an entry for next year’s championship.

FOTA had written to Mosley on Sunday demanding the FIA scrap the planned 2010 regulations in favour of the current rules, or face the prospect of no team submitting an application by the May 29 deadline.

It is believed the letter detailed a plan for FOTA itself to regulate cost-cutting and assist smaller outfits while working to the 2009 regulations.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenical told reporters in Monaco the teams remain committed to reducing costs but on their terms.

"What we have asked is to go back to the rules of this year, the 2009 rules," he said, "and then see together what we can do in order to make changes for next year.

"Bear in mind that for sure the cost is something that all the teams are fully committed to work on, but the cost is something that is related to the business of the teams.”

However, FOTA’s plans are now in disarray after Williams broke ranks with the teams despite being a signatory to the letter, casting doubt on the level of unity within the association.

Williams’ Chief Executive Officer Adam Parr though said the team remains committed to FOTA despite lodging its entry for 2010.

"The unity of FOTA is of paramount importance to Williams," he said. "(Sunday) we joined the other members of FOTA in writing to the FIA to request a continuing effort to find a compromise concerning the regulations for 2010.”

Parr believes FOTA had made significant progress in its negotiations with the FIA, but said Williams’ was contractually obligated to sign on for the 2010 season.

"We believe that under the leadership of (Ferrari president Luca) di Montezemolo and (Toyota Motorsport boss) John Howett, FOTA has extracted some very significant concessions from the FIA," he said.

"These include not only the procedural aspects of the budget cap but also other elements that will enable the higher budget teams to participate.

"Having said that, Williams has -- and has always maintained -- that we have a binding contract with both Formula One Management and the FIA to participate in the world championship from 2008 to 2012.

"We have been paid in full for our participation and we feel both morally and legally obliged to make it clear that we will participate in Formula One in the future as we have in the past 30 years.”