In a prepared statement released after the second practice second today, the FIA said: "The FIA’s lawyers have now examined the FOTA threat to begin a breakaway series. The actions of FOTA as a whole, and Ferrari in particular, amount to serious violations of law including wilful interference with contractual relations, direct breaches of Ferrari's legal obligations and a grave violation of competition law. The FIA will be issuing legal proceedings without delay.

"Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights."

The FIA had originally stated that a final entry list would be published today. In recent days, Lola and N.Technology, both initially rejected for an entry to F1 in 2010 but requested to remain on standby, have withdrawn their entries. We understand that both new teams have aligned themselves with FOTA.