Formula 1 has been plunged into chaos after eight top teams threatened to form a rival breakaway championship for the 2010 season. The FOTA teams issued the split threat after failing to resolve a long and controversial dispute with the FIA and its president Max Mosley over a proposed budget cap.
Mosley was determined to introduce the cap to prevent a “financial arms race” in the sport.
But the Formula One Teams Association, representing the teams, said it had acted because Mosley and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone were unwilling to compromise.
F1's hottest young star, German Sebastian Vettel, has vowed to stand by his Red Bull team and seems set to join the new championship in 2010: “We want to compete against the best drivers and the best teams. That speaks for itself.
"My team mate Mark Webber and I stand 100 per cent behind our team.”
A statement from FOTA - comprising Brawn GP, Renault, Ferrari, McClaren, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, BMW Sauber and Toro Rosso - said: “We’ve no alternative but to commence preparation for a new championship.
"The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.
"The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006.
"Despite this, and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise."
The breakaway move would see the most dramatic upheaval in F1 history. If FOTA carries out its threat, just five teams would be left competing in the F1 championship in 2010.
