Two teams fail with bids to join Formula 1 grid in 2016 or '17

Two teams have been unsuccessful in the FIA's latest selection process to enter Formula 1 in 2016 or '17, AUTOSPORT has learned

Motorsport's governing body invited candidates to submit their interest in May and set a deadline of June to do so, before extending that to July 23.

Two teams submitted applications, but neither met the governing body's criteria, meaning the grid will not grow beyond Haas' 2016 entry.

An FIA spokesman said: "We can confirm that 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."

The identities of the two teams is unknown, although it is understood neither was leading GP2 outfit ART Grand Prix.

The FIA spokesman said it was not up to the governing body to reveal the names of the applicants.

When the FIA announced the new selection process, it stated a decision would be made based on "the overall long-term interests of the championship", and it would not select an additional team if there is no viable candidate.

The FIA said it would assess:

• The technical ability and resources of the team
• The ability of the team to raise and maintain sufficient funding to allow participation in the championship at a competitive level
• The team's experience and human resources
• The value the candidate may bring to the championship as a whole

This means 11 teams will contest the Formula 1 world championship next season.