Ecclestone fires Arrows warning

Grand Prix chief Bernie Ecclestone has warned Arrows to prove they have a buyer - or risk being thrown out of the championship.

Ecclestone has signalled that the governing body’s patience with Tom Walkinshaw’s team is running out after Arrows missed its second successive race in Belgium this weekend.

The Oxfordshire-based outfit said they could not compete at Spa-Francorchamps because the deal to sell the team to an American billionaire was not completed on time.

"I think enough was enough maybe a few races ago," said Ecclestone. "We will have to see what happens.

"They are saying they are not here because it’s out of their control. If they can prove that then maybe they have got chances to hang on but if they can’t they probably won’t go to Monza."

FIA, the sport’s world governing body, expect the saga of the financially-troubled team will be decided in the next few days and certainly before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a fortnight.

The governing body reacted to Arrows’ failure not to compete in Belgium - having also missed the last race in Hungary - by demanding an immediate explanation.

Arrows were warned after not qualifying for the French Grand Prix last July that a repeat could leave them open to a fine or expulsion from the championship.