[Iceman]

LONDON – Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has told the Sunday Express newspaper that F1 regulations allow teams to miss up to three races without penalty and that, as a result, the Campos and USF1 teams are unlikely to make the grid for the season opener in Bahrain.

Eccleston told the newspaper that the two teams need time to find more secure funding.

Ecclestone was quoted as saying: "I think we won't see (the Spanish team) Campos and I don't think we will see the Americans."

He said that his terms allow any team to miss up to three races. This could lead to a patchwork starting grid, with some of F1's 13 teams coming and going, depending on whether they can afford to race.

If fewer than eight teams turn up for a race, the F1 Group may also have to pay hefty fines for breaching its contract with the governing body that grants it the commercial rights to the sport.

A team based in Serbia is ready to take the position of any that drop out and is planning to buy the assets of Toyota's moribund team. Ecclestone said.

"They have got the money from the Serbian government, I've spoken to the prime minister."

Honda, BMW and Toyota have pulled out of the sport.