European F3 pushes back entry deadline to bolster 2016 grid

The FIA had previously announced that 39 cars across 13 teams were accepted into the 2016 edition of the series, but only 24 of those entries have been submitted in time for Monday's deadline.

As such, the teams have been granted an additional two weeks to confirm their programmes, with deadline moved to February 29 - the Monday of the week that will host the first pre-season test at Vallelunga.

The FIA has also confirmed that the original mid-February date had been selected to give the series scope for a possible earlier start.

"It did not make any sense for us to move the entry deadline forward two weeks when we are starting the season at virtually the same time as last year," said FIA Single-Seater Commission president Stefano Domenicali.

"There are some teams that have indicated to us that they need some more time to put their deals together – and we wanted to give them every opportunity to do so."

Of the 13 teams that had been registered earlier, only seven have submitted entries in time, with Signature and Fortec among the notable omissions.

Li Zhi Cong switches to Carlin

The FIA statement has also confirmed that Chinese driver Peter Li Zhi Cong will remain in the category in 2016, switching to Carlin from Fortec.

Li has previously raced with Carlin in British F3 in 2014, taking fifth in the series' final season.

At Carlin, he joins fellow European F3 sophomores Ryan Tveter and Alessio Lorandi, while the team's fourth driver is yet to be confirmed.

2016 European F3 line-up so far:

Team	Drivers
Prema Powerteam	Lance Stroll  Ralf Aron  Maximilian Gunther  Nick Cassidy
Van Amersfoort Racing	Pedro Piquet  Callum Ilott  Harrison Newey
Carlin	Ryan Tveter  Alessio Lorandi  Peter Li Zhi Cong
Mucke Motorsport	David Beckmann  Mikkel Jensen
Motopark	Niko Kari  Sergio Sette Camara  Joel Eriksson  Guan Yu Zhou
Hitech GP	George Russell  Nikita Mazepin  Ben Barnicoat
T-Sport	Arjun Maini