Ecclestone slams US F1

Bernie Ecclestone has reiterated that he never expected US F1 to make the 2010 grid, and added that Formula One Management has the right to take legal action against the team for its failure to comply with the Concorde Agreement.

The FIA has said that it is looking into the US F1 affair, though it’s unclear what kind of penalty might result.

Ecclestone had long expressed his doubts about US F1, and he proved to be correct when Ken Anderson asked the FIA if the team could postpone its debut for a year. It was clear that such a request would not be met favourably, so US F1 will have to reapply for the 13th grid slot in 2011.

“I said from day one they wouldn’t be here,” said Bernie. “The whole set-up was wrong. They were over-ambitious.”

When the definitive 2010 entry list was published it was also missing Stefan GP, despite the Serbian outfit’s bullish attempt to make the grid with the stillborn Toyota TF110. The FIA said it was too late to accept an extra team.