The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said new Formula One rule that awarding championship to the driver with most wins could not be carried out until 2010.

"If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010," the FIA said in a statement Friday.

The teams made clear they were not in favour, accusing the governing body of ignoring the rules by imposing the new system.

The season-opening race Australian Grand Prix will kick off next week in Melbourne.

FIA's world motor sport council Tuesday voted against the Formula One Teams' Association's (FOTA's) proposal to reward race winners with more points. The proposal changed the scoring structure to a 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 points format from the existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

"It is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula One Championship," FOTA added.

FOTA said the teams were prepared to work with the FIA to devise a new system for 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2009)