Struggling new teams can miss three races says Todt

Formula One's new entrants will be allowed to miss the first three races of the season and avoid punishment, FIA president Jean Todt said yesterday.

F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has consistently said he does not expect US F1 and Campos to be ready for the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 14.

"In the last draft of the Concorde agreement it's written that a team can skip three races," Todt, who has replaced Max Mosley as world motorsport head, said.

US F1 and Campos, two of four completely new teams this season, have so far both named only one of their two drivers.

They have yet to launch their cars, missed the first test in Valencia last week and will skip this week's session in Jerez.

Former Spanish driver Adrian Campos has said he hopes to settle the future of his new team this week, having already signed Brazilian Bruno Senna.

Tony Teixeira, the boss of the A1 GP series, told Reuters last month he was in talks to buy into Campos while Serbia's Stefan GP say they are all but ready to replace a failed new team.

Todt remains cautious, however.

"If one of them doesn't make it, it doesn't mean another team comes in. It's up to the FIA to decide if they have the credentials," the former Ferrari chief said.

Virgin have already launched their car and fellow new team Lotus are set to unveil theirs on Friday, after Red Bull's presentation at the Jerez test today.