Adam Parr is hoping for re-admittance to FOTA following the deal they reached with the FIA on Wednesday.
Chief exec hopes for return to the fold after breakaway averted
Williams chief executive Adam Parr is hoping for re-admittance to FOTA following the deal they reached with the FIA that has stalled plans for a breakaway series.
The nine times constructors' champions were frozen out of the Formula One Teams' Association at the end of May when existing contractual obligations resulted in them submitting an entry to compete in next season's world championship.
It left FOTA, who would only submit entries on condition of the FIA removing its rule for a budget cap from 2010, with no option but to suspend Williams' membership.
Although that decision placed Parr in a position of being on the outside looking in, he was also better placed to listen to both sides of the argument.
He suggested on Friday at the British Grand Prix that a solution was close at hand and that solution duly arrived on Wednesday when FIA president Max Mosley agreed not to stand for re-election after being assured of cost cuts over the next two years.
With FOTA due to convene in Bologna on Thursday, it is almost certain that Williams and Force India - also suspended after submitting an unconditional entry - will rejoin.
"I do hope so. I think that's something we'd all like to see," Parr said. "It's essential we, along with Force India and the new teams, are part of the discussions going forward."
With a deal agreed, the FIA has finally confirmed the entry list for 2010 which includes all 10 of the current teams, along with the new Campos Meta, Team US F1 and Manor Grand Prix outfits.
Although the latter three will no longer be operating under a budget cap, they are due to receive 'technical assistance' from the present teams - the precise nature of which has yet to be defined.
The level of cost reduction agreed also remains ambiguous, with Mosley describing a "return to early 1990s levels" on Wednesday.
Delight
Parr is nevertheless delighted that Williams will once again be competing alongside Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP.
"At the weekend I outlined Williams' position, that we were optimistic a solution would be found and doubtful of the real merits of an alternative series," he added.
"So we are absolutely delighted the outcome of today's agreement will be a Formula One world championship next year with all the current teams, and hopefully the three new teams as well.
"The teams, the FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) have committed to a cost-saving programme that means the sport is stronger and better set up for the future than it has been for several years.
"On the cost savings, we understand what the objective is that has been agreed.
"But I think there's a lot of detail to fill out in terms of how that's going to be achieved and what the actual target is."
