Prodrive and F1 in 2009 … not so sure!

Prodrive has no guarantee of being present in F1 in 2009, according to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) represented by Max Mosley, its president. The team could be the 12th in the race.

« There is nothing concrete for their entry into F1 in 2009, » said the Briton in an interview for the magazine Le Paddock, published on the FIA website.

« At the request of his financiers, team owner David Richards asked me if the FIA could guarantee him an entry into F1 in 2009. »

« I told him he had no guarantee. »

Prodrive, which had planned to race with cars and engines provided by McLaren and Mercedes, has ruled out the possibility of entering F1 in 2008. The reasons given involve legal and commercial uncertainties regarding the possibility of using old cars and engines belonging to another team.

Their plans to become a sort of McLaren B team have been disrupted by Williams, who see the arrival of the so-called customer single-seaters as a threat to their existence.

The rules in this area are expected to be modified next year to allow teams to use cars designed and built by other teams. However, the existing teams have not yet signed a new commercial agreement on this matter.

Williams argued that the use of cars in this specific context is a commercial matter that is not within the jurisdiction of the FIA.

Prodrive announces that until this agreement is signed, the team would not be financially able to participate in F1 races.

Mosley said he understands the position of Williams, who employs hundreds of people in the construction of their cars. But F1 needs a certain degree of technology transfer.

« There are big discussions at the moment about the definition of a manufacturer, » he admitted.

« The first point of discussion should be at the level of regulations concerning the chassis, which can offer serious savings. We can then decide what can distinguish one chassis from another, » concluded Mosley.