Common launch plans stumble

Plans for Formula 1 teams to stage a common car launch next year are now hanging in the balance, AUTOSPORT has learned

F1 teams agreed earlier this month to stage a spectacular event in downtown Valencia to unveil each of their 2010 contenders.

It was hoped that the event would not only help reduce teams' individual costs for launches, but it would also allow fans the chance to get closer to the sport.

However, although teams were in favour of the general idea of the car launch, it has proved difficult for them to reach agreement on the specific details of the event.

There were fears that some of the lesser teams would get minimal publicity from the common launch and risk being left in the shadows of big hitters like Ferrari, with local hero Fernando Alonso, and McLaren with most recent champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Although it is understood that work is still going on to try to solve these issues to make the most of the opportunity offered to it by Valencia, if big progress is not made in the next few days then the event may need to be cancelled.

That would result in teams reverting to individual car launches - which would all likely take place in the second half of January as teams prepare for the first test of the year at Valencia in February.