SAKHIR, Bahrain — Formula One commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone says a U.S. backed team headed by Gene Haas is among two new teams the sport is likely to admit next season.
Speaking on Sunday ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ecclestone said he had held discussions with the sport's governing body, the FIA, and there was agreement about expanding the grid next season.
MORE: Cup race delayed | Earnhardt doesn't want many winners | Possible Cinderella stories
"They will be accepted, and we've also accepted another team as well, although whether they'll make it or not is another story," Ecclestone said when asked about a possible Haas entry.
"I've spoken to (FIA President) Jean Todt and we agreed yesterday."
The initial deadline for a decision on new 2015 entries expired at the end of February, but an agreement between Ecclestone and the FIA would likely be able to override that deadline.
The new entries may replace existing teams rather than add to the grid, as several of the current F1 teams continue to struggle financially in the exorbitantly expensive sport.
The other 2015 bidder is believed to be an Eastern Europe-based entry backed by Colin Kolles, who formerly was at defunct teams HRT, Midland and Spyker.
Haas is the founder of the Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR team based in North Carolina, and also operates one of the world's most sophisticated wind tunnels for the testing of car aerodynamics, which will greatly aid any new F1 entry.
SHR, which is co-owned by three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, also features drivers Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick. Busch also will run the Indy 500 this year in a one-race deal for Andretti Autosport. Patrick is a former IndyCar driver.
A possible barrier to Haas' involvement in F1 is a fit-and-proper-persons test that the FIA applies to those involved at high levels of ownership and management. Haas has a conviction for tax evasion and related charges.
A U.S. team was initially admitted to F1 in 2010 but lacked the funding and development to join the championship.
Prior to the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, Haas said he has not been notified by the FIA.
“We haven’t been notified by the FIA, but Bernie is kind of half Formula One, so I’m sure what he says goes.” Haas said.
Haas, who started the process last August, said he needs to know within the next month to be ready to field a team in 2015 out of the Stewart-Haas Racing complex in North Carolina.
“We’ve actually done quite a bit of planning,” he said. “We’ve actually got a lot of things in the works.
“But you really can’t sign any contracts until we have a license, and that’s issued by the FIA. I have no doubt that even if Mr. Ecclestone says that he’s OK with it, there’s probably still another few weeks of legal paperwork going back and forth before they would actually issue you one.”
— Bob Pockrass contributed to this report.