Hispania and Dallara end partnership

There had been tension between the Italian car builder and HRT for some time, amid suggestions during the winter that Hispania - then Campos - had fallen behind on payments to Dallara, and strong criticism of the quality of the chassis from Hispania figures once the car actually hit the track. Technical consultant Geoff Willis and test driver Christian Klien were both scathing about Dallara's product.

Hispania team boss Colin Kolles said in Monaco that the squad was close to an alternative deal for its 2011 technical needs, and this morning the outfit announced that it was splitting with Dallara.

"HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing, and Italian chassis manufacturer Dallara Automobili S.p.A have together agreed on amicable terms not to pursue their collaboration," said a Hispania statement. "The decision follows talks held over the last few months about the future of their collaboration."

The statement thanked Dallara for its efforts in difficult circumstances, but also hinted at dissatisfaction over a lack of development on the car. Hispania has been the slowest of the new teams throughout the season so far.

"The two partners experienced a challenging start to the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season, where everyone at Dallara Automobili S.p.A worked extremely hard in a fight against time to be ready for the season opener at Bahrain International Circuit," the statement continued.

"Their persistent and determined efforts paid off as HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing, pulled up to the starting line of the 2010 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix ready to go.

"The whirlwind of pre-season activity at the Italian chassis constructor Dallara Automobili allowed the team, formerly known as Campos Meta 1 prior to its acquisition by Jose Ramon Carabante in February 2010, to meet its tight deadline. Since its inaugural race HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing, has completed six rounds of the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship despite the fact that in all this time no further chassis development was made by Dallara.

"The collaboration, deemed by many to be an impossible task, resulted in the creation of the team's Cosworth V8 powered 2010 Formula 1 World Championship chassis, the F110, which was the very first car to be produced in the colours of HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing.

"Following the completion of six rounds of the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship, HRT F1 Team, Hispania Racing, and Dallara Automobili S.p.A have agreed that what they have achieved in such a short period of time was more than could have been reasonably expected.

"The two parties wish each other the best of luck in all future endeavours."