Rivalry with Mosley could hinder Stoddart

The Australian aviation entrepreneur sold the Minardi team to Red Bull at the end of the 2005 season, and the Faenza-based team has since been renamed Scuderia Toro Rosso.

But Stoddart maintained his factory and staff at Ledbury, England, and says he could begin preparations for the championship within two weeks if his application for the 2008 season is accepted.

Yet Stoddart, who has been extremely vocal against Mosley throughout last season, realizes he may not be too popular with the decision-makers.

Talking to autosport.com, Stoddart said: "Would I like to get back into F1? Yes. Could I do it? Yes. I have the premises and I still have staff. Will I get the opportunity? Let's see how it goes. ... There's obviously the relationship with Max to overcome..."

Only 12 teams are expected to participate in the 2008 championship, with speculation high that existing teams will get first rights on the available spots. With only one realistic spot left on the grid, the championship may well be oversubscribed.

"If the FIA allocates entries to people better positioned than us, I've got no problem," Stoddart said. "But we could be testing within a fortnight, we've got the credibility of having done it before, and if the budgets come down to the level that Max is talking about, then I'm damned sure we can be competitive."

Asked how he would feel if David Richards' Prodrive operation - who are expected to be among the interested teams - was preferred over his Minardi European team, Stoddart replied: "DR's more qualified than us, no argument there.

"But if a GP2 or a Euro F3000 team, one without any structure or street cred, got an entry ahead of us, then you might have to ask why."