The former champions Williams have become the first current Formula One team to sign up for the 2010 championship despite the ongoing row over regulations. With the deadline for entries closing on Friday, British-based Williams have been forced to act, making it clear their position in no way undermines the unified efforts of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) in their ongoing debate with the FIA (International Automobile Association) with regard to next year's regulations. Williams chief executive Adam Parr said: "The unity of FOTA is of paramount importance to Williams," he said. "We joined the other members of FOTA in writing to the FIA to request a continuing effort to find a compromise concerning the regulations for 2010." On Sunday, the teams handed FIA president Max Mosley a letter demanding he scrap the 2010 rules, notably pertaining to the budget cap and the prospect of a two-tier championship, in return for their commitment to the sport through to 2012. That was despite the fact Mosley had said, ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, that progress was being made. "We can confirm we have submitted our entry for the 2010 Formula One World Championship," said Parr. "We have done that, firstly because we have a contract with Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management, and also with the FIA, called the Concorde Agreement. We extended that for five years up until the end of 2012. Bernie has honoured his obligations to us under that agreement. "We feel morally and legally obliged to honour our side of that contract. Secondly, we are a Formula One team. We don't do anything else. It is something we have been doing for 31 years. "It is very important for our employees, sponsors and fans to know we will be in Formula One for next year and many years to come." sports@thenational.ae
sports@thenational.ae
