FIA 'unlikely' to increase team numbers

The FIA has released the 2008 entry list this morning, confirming that Prodrive will join the existing 11 F1 teams on the grid. This has left teams such as Direxiv and Carlin Motorsport out.

The Japanese company was particularly disappointed and said it will continue to pursue entry for the 2007 season.

And suggestions have been made recently that the FIA could increase the grid to more than 12 teams, with possibly pre-qualifying introduced again to Formula One, to determine the 24 cars that start a Grand Prix.

But Mosley said today that logistics and safety will prevent an increase of the number of teams and said such an expansion remains "unlikely".

"The limit of 12 teams was imposed for safety reasons, and circuit facilities, pit garages, etc, are designed for this number," Mosley said.

"It would be very difficult to enlarge the facilities and we would also have to look very carefully at the safety issue.

"The number is unlikely to increase."

Mosley said, however, that those teams rejected could still find their way into Formula One.

"We informed all the teams that were not successful," the FIA president added. "We asked them to keep in touch in case a vacancy occurred."