FIA blames FOTA bosses for BMW exit

F1's governing body on Wednesday suggested it is the bosses of other manufacturer-backed Formula One teams who are to blame for BMW's decision to quit the sport.

A statement issued by the FIA in the wake of the Munich carmaker's decision said it is "not surprised" by the news.

After Honda pulled out late last year, the Paris federation moved to introduce budget cap rules that led to the F1 carmakers' group FOTA, of which BMW was a member, threatening to set up a breakaway championship.

"Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided," the FIA said on Wednesday.

The FIA said that the alternative rules, devised as a compromise to the budget cap in order to avoid the FOTA exodus, "should make it easier for new teams to enter and enable existing ones to participate on much reduced budgets".

As alluded to in the FIA statement, however, it is now rumoured that Renault and Toyota may follow Honda and BMW out of F1. A new Concorde Agreement, that would bind the teams to the sport until 2012, still has not been ratified.

The FIA said it hopes the compromise rules are good enough.

"Hopefully it will be enough to prevent further withdrawals and provide a solid foundation for Formula One," the Max Mosley-led body added.