US F1 and Stefan GP won't make it to the starting grid

Formula One hopefuls Stefan GP have been rejected entry into the 2010 World Championship.

US F1 has officially withdrawn from entering this season due to a lack of development funds and not having a car ready for the first race. But despite the withdrawal leaving a spare place on the grid, the FIA has ruled that it is "not possible for a replacement team to be entered for the championship at this late stage".

Stefan GP had got a car ready - using the chassis and engine Toyota had already started to develop before its decision to pull out of F1 - and had sent containers over to Bahrain and Malaysia in anticipation of being handed the last places on the grid if another team withdrew.