No new Formula One team in 2011

In March the FIA invited parties interested in becoming the sport's 13th team to come forward, but the governing body has deemed none of the expressions of interest to be strong enough to warrant inclusion on the entry list.

The sport was left with a void to fill following the collapse of the fledgling US F1 team prior to the start of this season.

An application from Epsilon Euskadi and a joint venture involving 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and Italian constructor Durango had been among the candidates to be awarded the slot.

FIA said: "It was considered that none of the candidates met the requirements to be granted an entry into the Championship.

"Consequently, the allocation of the 13th team will not be granted."

The decision was taken at a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris yesterday, which was called to discuss whether or not Ferrari should face any further punishment over the German Grand Prix team orders saga.

No decision on Ferrari's fate had been made by the time the Star went to press.

But the WMSC did announce new guidelines on driver conduct which could see drivers stripped of their super licence - which permits them to race in F1 - should they be convicted of a road traffic offence.

Lewis Hamilton was recently fined by an Australian court after being found guilty of performing boy racer stunts on a public road on the eve of the Melbourne grand prix in March.

FIA said F1 drivers "must act as ambassadors for the sport, be aware their conduct on the road must be exemplary and respect road safety rules."

It said the proposed rule change would be put to the FIA general assembly for approval.

The WMSC also confirmed next season's F1 calendar, which runs to a record 20 races and features a new grand prix at Delhi in India, subject to final FIA approval.