Williams commits before compromise

The British team did not wait for the FIA's decision on the 2010 regulations to propose its candidacy for the next championship. But Williams denies having betrayed the unity of FOTA, the team association.

Published on 25/05/2009 à 15:09

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Time is running out and the meetings have not actually changed anything so far. Because the moment is crucial. The deadline for submitting applications for the world championship of Formula 1 2010 is set for Friday May 29. Suffice to say that the week is decisive. This weekend, F1 teams wrote a letter to the FIA, expressing their common wish to see the 2010 regulations amended. United, the bosses of the current teams had not yet committed to the next season. But Williams, aware of the short deadlines for this negotiation, preferred to submit its application before the FIA's response.

If the British team denies having betrayed FOTA's strategy, which consists of putting pressure on the FIA to obtain satisfaction, Frank Williams' team wants above all to ensure its future in F1. But this "premature" candidacy compared to the other teams could weaken the team association, whose main strength is its unity against the leaders of Formula 1. The FIA could see, in Williams' decision, that the teams need of F1, while FOTA seeks to show the FIA that F1 needs the current teams. The last chance meeting, which must take place this week, will undoubtedly determine the decision of the other teams to follow Williams, or not.