Formula One team chiefs and drivers were reluctant on Friday to confirm that their sport was splitting and that a new breakaway series would take place next year.

Despite statements to that effect from both the rebel teams and the ruling body, there was no final confirmation and many in the paddock at the British Grand Prix suggested more negotiations would take place.

On the morning after the midnight announcement by the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA)'s rebel teams, stating that they intended to set up their own series next year, it seemed many people involved still felt a solution to the budget cap row was possible - and that commerical ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone was the key.

As the cars began opening free practice for Sunday's British Grand Prix, and following a statement in reaction from the ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), even one of the rebel team bosses was still talking of resolving the problems.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner said: "Bernie Ecclestone is in a tricky position. He doesn't like the rules but it's effectively his business. He's in a situation where his key assets are saying they can't enter.

"If anybody can deliver a solution to all this, I think he's about the only man who can. But it isn't forthcoming at the moment. It's s shame. Formula One is one of the most popular sports in the world and we have a duty to care for its future and of course for the fans and our employees.

"But you know, as they say, never say never."

As Horner spoke, FIA president Max Mosley arrived and marched straight into Bernie Ecclestone's motor home in the Silverstone paddock.

German Adrian Sutil of Force India, one of the two existing teams - the other is Williams - signed up to race for the FIA's world championship next year, said he was still hoping for a solution.

"I have heard the news and I don't know what to say," said the 26-year-old.

"Every day we have had a different story of this. I just hope there is a solution today. A split is not good for Formula One."

Former leading driver Briton David Coulthard, now working as a pundit for the BBC, added that the overnight statements looked very much like the final high-risk moves in a marathon game of big-business chess.

"At the end of the day, it is just a question of them all getting together to agree the rules - and if the teams all want a pink car, you can be sure that is what will happen next season - a grid of pink cars!" he said.

The whole issue has to be reconciled on Friday before the announcement on Saturday by the FIA of the entry list for the 2010 world championship.

Eight of the current F1 teams said in a statement early on Friday morning that, after failing to resolve their dispute with the ruling body, they were now planning to set up their own championship for 2010.

In their statement, issued shortly after midnight, the teams said: "The teams have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 F1 Championship. We've no alternative than to commence preparation for a new championship."

Mosley has remained insistent on introducing a voluntary £40m budget cap for teams to curtail a "financial arms race" in F1.

But the FOTA teams - Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso - have remained adamant they will not race in 2010 under Mosley's rules.

They confirmed their position after a four-hours meeting at Renault's Enstone headquarters on Thursday evening.

AFP

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