It appears as if the other teams have finally joined forces when it comes to the situation at Scuderia Toro Rosso and their V10 powerplant with Autosport reporting that the other two bottom of the grid teams, Super Aguri and MidlandF1 complaining to the FIA about the speed that was displayed in Australia and asking them to exclude the sister Red Bull team from scoring world championship points.

_{source: gp2006.com}

While this has been on the cards for several months now with other teams questioning the FIA's decision to follow through with the exemption granted to Paul Stoddart due to financial concerns, the sports governing body assured the other teams that the restricted V10 would not have an advantage over the V8 engines they were forced to use.

However, while the big teams are not that threatened by the Toro Rosso team, well, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher may not agree after he was passed by Tonio Liuzzi's V10 at Albert Park yesterday, the rule should apply to ALL teams on the grid, including the littlest teams, Midland and Super Aguri. This means that STR should still be at the back of the grid as well, and if they are not, it is proof that that their engine has an advantage over their immediate rivals.

It must be understood that the reason the exemption was granted was to allow Paul Stoddart's small team to remain on the grid, because if he could not continue to run his older powerplants, he would be forced to fold and the grid would be left with just eighteen cars. Therefore, it is extremely understandable that the situation was allowed to occur, however the FIA should have altered the decision when Stoddart decided to sell the team to someone with a healthier bank balance while he bowed out altogether.

"We are trying to protect our investment. We think that it was an unfair situation when Red Bull bought Minardi, because I understand they gave this authorization to use the V10 because otherwise Paul Stoddart was out of business," Super Aguri's managing director Daniel Audetto told Autosport. "The teams said, 'okay we need 10 teams so you have this special dispensation.' That was the reason and the fact that Red Bull is now owning Toro Rosso, they have not only the money to buy a V8 but they could buy Cosworth if they want. It gives them an unfair advantage against the small teams, but at circuits like Monaco, Hungary, Montreal or if it is wet then they could mix it up with the big boys and take away points from the others. We think the best thing is for the FIA to let them race but without scoring points for the constructors' championship. They should still get points in the drivers' championship."

The biggest concern is the likes of Monaco and Hungary where there is a strong chance that STR could put in a very strong challenge.