Motorsport: F1 peace meeting ends in drama

The spectre of yet more unrest in Formula One stalked the paddock at the Nrburgring yesterday ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix after the FIA accused the Fota teams of walking out of a meeting to rubber stamp the World Motor Sport Council's decision regarding a freeze on sporting and technical regulations for next season.

According to the governing body, all of the changes have been agreed subject to a minimum car weight of 620 kg and the signing of an agreement between the teams to reduce costs.

Williams, Force India, US F1, Manor and Campos were all ready to sign, but the eight renegade Fota teams who were invited to attend to discuss their further proposals for 2010 instead walked out of the meeting of the Technical Working Group, according to an FIA statement. Fota denied they staged a walkout.

They are nervous about Max Mosley's threat to withdraw his promise not to stand for re-election as FIA president in October, and unhappy about increasing allegations that new teams applying to the FIA for 2010 entries were told they had to sign up to use independent Cosworth engines rather than those supplied by major car manufacturers.

At least one is believed to have lost their chance because they refused to do that.

- THE INDEPENDENT