Official: USF1 forgets 2010, Stefan GP forced to wait

The American team USF1, entered for the 2010 Formula 1 championship, is ultimately out of the running for this season.

Indeed, the team, which had requested an exemption from the FIA to join the competition starting only from Barcelona (the 5th GP of the season, while regulations only allow 3 absences), has just been officially removed from the lists.

The team had nonetheless been seen in contact with Stefan GP and Campos/HRT, but the negotiations did not succeed, slowly but directly leading the American team towards the exit for 2010. The only confirmed driver, José Maria Lopez, seems to have headed to Hispania Racing Team.

A spot therefore becomes available in the F1 teams, but the FIA will leave it vacant this year.

Indeed, the official list of teams and drivers for the 2010 season was published this Wednesday, and neither USF1 nor Stefan GP are present. Yet the Serbian team was ready, having the car developed by Toyota, which withdrew at the end of 2009, with one official driver, Kazuki Nakajima, and Jacques Villeneuve approaching the second seat.

But the Federation preferred not to take any risks with this new team, judging that the time remaining before the first Grand Prix of the Season, which, let us remember, will take place next weekend, is insufficient to integrate a new team. The Serbian team is therefore also out of competition.

The FIA has nonetheless announced that a process will be opened to find a team to complete the 2011 championship. It is likely that USF1 and Stefan GP will try their luck again.