Arrows Running Out of Time, Says Ecclestone

Arrows' hopes of staying alive in Formula One depend on the team proving that a sale of the team is imminent, the sport's chief Bernie Ecclestone said today.

The financially-struggling team packed up and left the Belgian Grand Prix paddock on Friday after sitting out opening practice.

They have now failed to race in three of the last four rounds of the Championship, arguing that they were doing so on legal advice as they negotiated with potential purchasers. Ecclestone, who oversees the commercial side of the sport, made clear that patience was running out.

"Enough was enough maybe a few races ago," he told reporters at Spa. "So we'll see what happens now. They are saying they are not here because it's force majeure, it's out of their control, and if they can prove that (then) maybe they've got chances to hang on.

"But if they can't, they probably won't go to Monza."

Arrows did not travel to the Hungarian Grand Prix last month but turned up in Belgium after announcing on Wednesday that an unnamed American investor had agreed to keep the team on the road. They said they hoped to finalise the deal on Friday and compete this weekend but then issued a statement saying it had been impossible to complete all the paperwork in time.

The team also face court action in London on September 10, four days before the race in Monza, involving their former driver Jos Verstappen who is seeking compensation after being ditched before the start of the season. If Arrows are at any time deemed to be insolvent then they will automatically lose their rights to compete.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has asked them to provide a full explanation in writing for their failure to compete in Belgium and a spokesman said the deadline was in the next couple of days.