F1 in disarray at threat of breakaway

Eight major current Formula 1 teams have announced they are planning to set up a rival championship for the 2010 season.

The teams who are part of the breakaway group are Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso. They plan to operate in opposition to any championship organised by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Of the teams currently on the grid, only Williams and Force India will not be part of the breakaway.

The threat by members of the F1 Teams Association (FOTA) escalates their row with world motorsport boss, Max Mosley, over his budget cap proposals.
Mosley has proposed a voluntary £40m budget cap for teams to curtail a "financial arms race" in F1.

The BBC's F1 reporter, David Croft, believes this threat from FOTA has been on the cards for some time.

"I think this is something they've discussing privately amongst themselves and I think they've already come up with a list of venues where this breakaway series could be raced. I think it was inevitable we would be heading this way.

Once it appeared on both sides there appeared to be no room for negotiation FOTAare unhappy with the way the sport is run. But the people running the sport are not prepared to back down on what they see as their right to govern in their way as they have been doing for the last 60 years."

The former World Champion, Fernando Alonso, has said he would race in the rebel championship and is feeling positive about the news.

"They didn't find a solution so it is the way it is...life will keep going. The new series will be very attractive so we will have the best teams and the best drivers. The new series will be the new Formula 1"

The FIA have responded by showing no sign of softening its position and have confirmed they will announce a new entry list for the 2010 championship, as planned, on Saturday.