Grapevine: MF1 blocking Super Aguri entry

Aguri Suzuki's team failed to make the original entry list to the 2006 season after not lodging their $48 million bond with the FIA in time.

Under the sport's regulations, however, they can still gain an entry providing they satisfy the FIA's criteria and they get approval from all the other teams on the grid. The team are believed to have the bond ready and are poised to resubmit the entry.

The unanimous support from their rivals is not forthcoming, though, with sources claiming that MF1 are still refusing to back down in their opposition to Super Aguri's entry. Ecclestone is believed to have convinced the other teams to support the Super Aguri's inclusion in next year's Championship.

MF1 are believed to be concerned that Super Aguri could knock them outside the top 10 teams in the Constructors' Championship - which would cost them vital commercial revenue from the sale of television rights. Only the top 10 outfits are eligible for payment by Ecclestone.

Although Super Aguri would not be eligible for the money themselves for next year, as teams have to compete for two full seasons before qualifying for the income, any failure by Midland to make the top 10 would result in them losing the money anyway.

Sources claim that Ecclestone is now working hard at trying to convince Midland to back down in their opposition but that he has not yet been successful in his plans.

It may involve some kind of financial incentive for the team, especially because the outfit have proved loyal to Ecclestone so far and are already committed to F1 from the start of 2008.

Super Aguri are still working on the design of their 2006 car, as well as getting the 2002 Arrows A23 car, which they will start the season with, ready.

Chief technical officer Mark Preston told Autosport: "It's pretty much business as usual. We have 50 people here working absolutely flat out on trying to get things sorted out and we have a huge pile of CVs from people who want to work for us.   

"We'll continue to develop the car until we're told to do otherwise."