Teams round on Williams for breaking ranks in F1 stand-off

The Formula One Teams Association has decided temporarily to suspend Williams from its membership (GETTY IMAGES)

Williams were suspended from the Formula One Teams Association yesterday for entering the 2010 championship and breaking what had been a united front in a stand-off with the governing body.

The former champions are the only team to have formally submitted an entry, with the champions Ferrari and others threatening to leave the sport unless the 2010 rules are rewritten.

"Following Monday's confirmation that the team has submitted its formal entry... the Formula One Teams Association has today decided temporarily to suspend Williams F1 from membership of Fota," the team said in a statement. "Fota's decision, although regrettable, is understandable," added the team owner, Frank Williams. "However, as a racing team and a company whose only business is Formula One, with obligations to our partners and our employees, submitting our entry to next year's Championship was unquestionable. In addition, we are legally obliged under our contract with Formula One Management and the FIA [International Automobile Federation] to participate in the World Championship until the end of 2012."

The FIA has made tomorrow the deadline for all teams to sign up, saying potential new teams need as much time as possible to prepare. Ferrari, Renault, Toyota and the two Red Bull teams have said they cannot sign up under the proposed regulations.

The FIA wants to introduce an optional £40m budget cap, with those accepting it given greater technical freedom than those remaining on unlimited budgets.