Arrows face being shot out of Formula One

TROUBLED Formula One team Arrows risk being booted out of the World Championship if they do not make serious attempts to qualify for this weekend's German Grand Prix.

The Oxfordshire-based outfit will face being charged with acting against the spirit of competition if they repeat last weekend’s actions in France when they failed to make the starting grid.

Arrows did not take part in opening practice at Magny-Cours, did one installation lap on Saturday and then one flying lap with Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi in qualifying.

The observer for the sport’s governing body, FIA, launched an investigation after both drivers missed out Arrows’ actions at Hockenheim on Saturday will come under close scrutiny.

Should a similar incident occur, the team could find themselves subject of a report to the race stewards referring to article 151c of the International Sporting Code, covering actions prejudicial to the spirit of competition.

The punishment for breaking the regulation includes a fine or race ban to expulsion from the Championship itself.

Arrows’ failure to qualify raised suspicion because Frentzen and Bernoldi were within the 107% cut-off limit after the first two sectors, but then both produced dramatically slower times in the final sector. Frentzen was also reported to have changed into casual clothes before the end of the session.

Arrows boss Tom Walkinshaw said: “Unfortunately we were unable to qualify either car. Our priority has to be to get this team back on its feet and in a position where we can build a positive future.”

The future of the team has been hangs in the balance since Morgan Grenfell bank, which owns 70%, blocked a High Court attempt by Walkinshaw to sell its assets to soft drinks giants Red Bull.

Walkinshaw has had discussions with several investors and claimed in France he had been advised not to take part in practice. He also had to pay £3.2million of his own money to engine suppliers to ensure they competed at Silverstone.