Mosley expects 12 F1 teams in 2010

The 2009 field will include ten teams if the Honda Racing squad manage to find a buyer in time for the start of the season in March.

If not, there will be just 18 cars on the grid in a year where 24 were expected.

The Super Aguri team folded in the early part of last season, and Prodrive, who were to enter F1 this year, decided against it over the legality of customer cars.

But Mosley believes the cost-cutting measures agreed by the teams and the FIA, as well as the possibility to have cheap engines and gearboxes, will see the grid increased by next year.

"I think we will have 12 (teams) in 2010," Mosley told selected reporters on Thursday. "If we get the job done we will have 12 teams - it means independent engine and gearbox supplier at a sensible cost.

"Secondly decisions taken quickly and thirdly the commercial rights holder paying down to 12th place and also transport."

Mosley admitted the governing body had been approached by the American group looking to enter Formula One as USF1.

The FIA boss said the team are to be taken seriously.

"Yes, they have," Mosley said when asked if the team had approached the FIA. "They are serious people but they are the same as everyone else, they need the costs to come down if they are to be competitive.

"They are recommended by Nick Craw, our man in the States who knows a lot of people. You have to take it seriously."

The Briton also said that he expected the Honda team to be sold and to be on the grid this year, although he admitted he felt the chances were around 70 percent.

"I don't have any inside knowledge but my feeling is that from all the circumstances it is more likely than not that they will be there but I would not put it higher than 70 percent," he added. "But I honestly cannot pretend I know.

"As far as we are concerned that team has an entry, they have not withdrawn their entry and they are fully entitled to turn up in Melbourne and race if they want to. If they want to change the name there is no reason why they shouldn't.

"Talking to people around the thing they seem optimistic but they always are until the moment comes."

Mosley downplayed the negative impact the failure of finding a buyer would have on the sport, as he thinks people would finally realise it is crucial to reduce costs drastically.

"It wouldn't actually be damaging. I think it would make everyone realise finally that there really is a problem, as there are one or two people who still don't understand.

"I don't think it would matter provided we can lay out a plan for 2010, which makes it possible for a small team to come in and run competitively and do so without losing money.

"The days of the billionaires wasting money have gone."