grumpyf1

The FIA have published the list of teams who will be competing this season's F1 championship and, as expected, US F1 aren't on it. But neither are hopefuls Stefan GP, with an FIA statement saying they won't be allowed an entry at this late stage. Boo! So we've got 12 teams, including one we haven't even seen yet that hasn't turned a wheel and has an amusing TLA (that's "three letter abbreviation" to you). So hurah! Here we go and let's all be thankful for HRT! (NP: The 12" version of Men at Work's "Down Under" - I didn't even know there was one until this year...)

Jean Toad (Sorry, Todt) isn't off to a flying start as head of the FIA is he? Earlier in the week he apparently said that teams could have a 3 race absence from F1 without incurring the wrath of the regulators. In light of the fact that US F1 and Campos both seem to be up a certain creek without a carbon fibre paddle, it seemed like a pretty sensible suggestion. Considering that (with Toyota's departure) the aim was to have 13 teams this season, surely it's better to have 11 for a bit, then 13, than just 11 because they didn't make it in time. But it seems not. Apparently he was misquoted. Turn up at the first race or you're breaking the rules. Hey! Let's kill F1 off by discouraging new teams to even bother trying! Woohoo! (Moved on to The Cowboy Junkies "Powder Finger". No, I don't remember them either.)