From eurosport.com :
Anyone wishing to join at a later date can still do so, assuming places remain in a 12-team championship, but they will have no say in shaping the regulations.
The decision put pressure on the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA), whose five members have been threatening their own series from 2008 when the existing commercial agreement expires.
The five -- Renault, BMW, DaimlerChysler's Mercedes, Honda and Toyota -- are close to agreeing a deal with Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA move is a further tightening of the screw.
Mercedes have a 40 percent stake in McLaren while the other carmakers all have their own teams.
So far, Ferrari, Williams, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Midland and newcomers Super Aguri have committed to Ecclestone's championship.
The meeting in Paris approved the sporting regulations for 2008, including a ontroversial plan to freeze engine development for a three-year period from the start of 2008 to the end of 2010.
Some GPMA members are unhappy with the plan but Wednesday's council decisions effectively mean the only way they can prevent it happening is by signing up for the FIA championship by March 31.
The FIA said the regulations, aimed at reducing the cost of competing and improving the spectacle and safety, would be published on Thursday.
"The regulations which affect the design of the cars must be finalised before 30 June 2006 to give the competing teams sufficient time to design and develop their 2008 cars," the governing body said in a statement.
"The regulations not affecting the design of the cars can be modified at any point up to the start of the 2008 season."
Hmmm, that is really a tough pressure - if they don't sign up by the end of March, they will have no say about the regulations. That sort of blackmail is just so typical for Bernie and Max - why don't these stupid old farts step down. This is not a fair way to make business, I really really hope the GPMA say NO ! Just to show that this is not the right way. Although that would probably be the death to F1, but the killers are Bernie and Max
F*** off, old farts !
Formula One carmakers threatening their own series announced on Monday that their teams had submitted entry forms to continue in the FIA world championship in 2008. "The five teams...have submitted their entry forms for the 2008 Formula One world championship," the GPMA said in a statement.
The carmakers' teams are champions Renault, BMW Sauber, McLaren Mercedes, Honda and Toyota.
So it happened - very good strategic move from the FIA there although I don't like it. It was effective !
Bye, bye GPWC and split series fears, there are also good things about this. With the new owners and the increased delirium of Max and Bernie we can hope that in very few years F1 gets in some kind of stable state again