Howett: 14th team not a FOTA issue

The decision on whether to allow a 14th team in Formula 1 next year will now be left up to individual teams, after a FOTA meeting on Sunday ruled that the body should not get involved in the matter

BMW Sauber needs to get unanimous approval from rival outfits to be guaranteed a place on the expanded grid next year - and without that its entry would depend on one of the new teams not making it.

The matter was briefly discussed in Sunday morning's meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), but an increase in team numbers requires a change in the Concorde Agreement - and that needs unanimous support.

With Williams having already made it clear that it will block the move, it now appears there will be no impetus within FOTA to get involved in the matter.

FOTA vice-chairman John Howett told AUTOSPORT: "We touched on the subject, but that is an issue that is not necessarily a FOTA issue - and each team now individually needs to look at it. It is an issue for individual teams, regardless of a majority FOTA position."

FOTA also formalised the decision to abandon KERS for 2010, which was agreed in Singapore, and held further discussions about revising next year's calendar because of the logistical problems involved in having Monaco and Turkey back-to-back.

"We want to see an operating calendar that will accommodate 19 races," said Howett. "But at the moment Monaco/Turkey is more or less impossible."

FOTA also discussed the possibility of a common car launch between teams next year to save costs.