BMW, Lotus, Epsilon in run for F1 slot

The FIA has narrowed down its selection for the 13th place on the grid, and is expected to decide in the next few days which of the outfits has been successful.

BMW Sauber is currently looking for a buyer, while Lotus' plans, revealed by AUTOSPORT last week, are believed to be backed by the Malaysian government.

Epsilon has funding in place after missing out on the first round of new team entries.

FIA president Max Mosley said on Friday that he expected an announcement about which team had got the place shortly after this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

"Finally last night we got the final offers from the three most serious teams and in the next day or two, together with the due diligence people we'll assess them and then we'll pick one of them," said Mosley at Monza on Friday.

"I expect something early next week."

Mosley said that BMW Sauber had asked for more time than originally planned to present its plans for 2010.

"BMW Sauber are one of the three but of course they are now effectively a new team because they didn't sign the Concorde Agreement," he explained. "We were asked to give them another week to produce their documentation and answer further questions which they have done."

Mosley said he had no doubts that the three new teams - Manor Grand Prix, Campos Grand Prix and Team US F1 - were all on course with their plans to be on the grid in 2010.

"They seem fine," he explained. "I think the Cosworth engine may surprise a few people as well."

When asked specifically about US F1, amid speculation that the team may be behind schedule to get its car ready, Mosley said: "This is the rumour. We sent some people over there and it's not quite what it sounds. Someone is going over again at the beginning of October.

"There's all sorts of rumours about them but they say they are very serious, so we have to take them at face value."