After three seasons at the back of the F1 grid, the Spanish backmarker has folded, even though official confirmation has been lacking so far.

"It was impossible to go on," Sala, a former Minardi driver who was brought in by new owners Thesan Capital to run the team this year, told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

"When we decided to take charge of the team, we were promised aid that never arrived," he added.

HRT, founded as Campos Meta 1 and also known as Hispania, never scored a point.