Two teams refused entry to Formula One

According to a statement from an FIA spokesperson, “... the FIA received two candidate Formula 1 team applications for vacant grid slots. We subsequently put these through our comprehensive diligence processes.”

"Unfortunately none of the applicants were able to meet the FIA's criteria for new teams despite being granted every opportunity of doing so, and we now consider this round of applications to be closed."

Haas F1, founded by Gene Haas of the United States of America, will enter the fray in the 2016 season. The FIA’s latest ruling means that it will be the only team this year to do so – meaning there will be 11 teams following the end of the 2015 season.

Applications for new teams were opened in May of this year. The FIA, which is the world’s governing body for motorsport, requires candidates to submit an initial interest, following which more detailed criteria are issued to teams, which they must meet in order to be in consideration for a spot in Formula One.

According to its regulations, the FIA says it selects teams based on "the overall long-term interests of the championship" and that if there was no appropriate candidate, they would not select a team – precisely what has happened in this case.

In the official statement, the spokesman said "Unfortunately none of the applicants were able to meet the FIA's criteria for new teams despite being granted every opportunity of doing so, and we now consider this round of applications to be closed."

It is not known what teams these are, as these were not released to the public. FIA officials said the organisation was not at liberty to release any names.

There has been immense speculation about who will move to Haas, with rumours doing the rounds that IndyCar champion Danica Patrick may join the outfit. Other names include former Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez, who has been testing for Ferrari this year.

The Belgian Grand Prix will flag off at Spa-Francorchamps next week.