With the confirmation overnight by FIA that the USF1 team has been excluded from the 2010 Formula One season, the future of the team now hangs in the balance.

The first of the new teams to be confirmed a entry, the outfit has not been able to get its cars completed in time for the preseason testing.  It had recently requested to miss the first 4 rounds of the season.  That approach has been rejected by the FIA.

Team Principle Ken Anderson now admits that was not really a option, as missing the preseason testing meant the team would have had to enter the championship with no testing due to the in season testing ban.

Speaking with Autosport.com, Anderson confirmed that failure of a sponsor to fulfill a January funding commitment led to the problems.  He is however hopeful that the FIA will shortly confirm the teams place on the 2011 grid.

That however has to be doubted.  Given Stefan GP, who were last night denied the chance of replacing USF1 on the 2010 gird, have indicated they have one car and the second shortly ready to be tested it is hard to see why the FIA would risk any further failure by USF1 to make the 2011 grid.

Anderson conceded in his Autosport interview that if the FIA did not shortly confirm the 2011 entry, the team would likely need to close down.

The full entry list below confirms there will be22 cars on the grid for the season opener in Bahrain.  New teams Virgin F1, Lotus and Hispania Racing F1(HRT F1) team (formerly known as Campos) will join the chamipnship, replacing the departed Toyota F1.  BMW Sauber will contest the 2010 season under new private owners following the withdrawl of BMW ownership of the team.

This season will also see the return of Cosworth engines to the series with 4 teams slated to use the power plant.

There is only one seat left on the grid with HRT F1 yet to confirm a partner for Brunno Senna.