New teams hoping to enter Formula One next year have been told by the governing body to register their interest by April 15 and pay an administration fee of €1,000 ($1,361).

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that it had decided to open a new selection process "to identify a candidate to fill any vacancy that may exist" at the start of 2011.

"The FIA may also identify one or more possible 'reserve' entrants to fill such vacancies," it added, with a likely June deadline for applications and a final decision expected in July.

There are currently 12 Formula One teams competing, three of them all-new entrants, with a 13th slot seemingly available after USF1 failed to be ready in time for the season that started in Bahrain last weekend.

Although USF1 asked to defer their entry for a year, the FIA has instead indicated it might take action against them for the no-show.

Serbian-owned Stefan GP, who had been planning to take over the cars built by Toyota before the Japanese manufacturer pulled out of F1 at the end of last season, had been lobbying for USF1's place but were ruled out for this year.

The governing body said any successful new candidate would have to be capable of participating in 2011 and 2012 with the "overall long-term interests of the Championship" key to selection.

It said the precise terms of the process, together with deadlines and legal requirements, would be communicated to those who had expressed an interest by April 15 and paid the non-refundable fee.

Those who then wish to proceed would have to pay a further application fee and undergo due diligence. The FIA said this would include proof of the team's technical ability and resources, its ability to raise and maintain funding, its experience and staff and the FIA's own assessment "of the value that the candidate may bring to the Championship as a whole".