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LONDON, England - Caterham and Marussia have both entered the 2015 Formula 1 championship.
The back-markers, under administration with financial problems, sat out the 2014 US F1 GP and will again be absent in Brazil this weekend (November 9) where the F1 world began on arrive early on Wednesday in heavy rain.
Also on Wednesday a provisional entry list for the 2015 F1 season emerged with a full complement of 11 teams. Each team reportedly needed to lodge its official entry, including a fee of $500 000, by November 1 2014.
BOYCOTT THREAT EASING
That was a week ago where in Austin, Texas, the threat of a boycott by fellow private teams Lotus, Force India and Sauber was well under way.
It seems that threat is now easing as Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez negotiates directly with Donald Mackenzie, the chairman of F1's major shareholder, CVC.
"We have left the negotiations to Gerard," a source confirmed to Britian's The Telegraph newspaper. "Gerard and Donald speak the same language."
It is suggested the small teams could benefit from a $160-million boost if the negotiations are successful.
CRASH TESTS CANCELLED?
Marussia, entered for 2015 as 'Manor F1 Team' after the withdrawal of Russian backer Andrey Cheglakov, is reportedly in advanced negotiations with an Indian buyer and also on the provisional list is Caterham, now referred to officially as CF1 Caterham F1 Team.
However Germany's Auto Motor and Sport explained on Wednesday (Nov 5) that the validity of the two teams' entry depended on whether they could return for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi as they have only been given dispensation to sit out two races.
"One bad sign," said correspondent Michael Schmidt, "is that the two teams have cancelled all crash tests for their 2015 cars."