Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso criticised the way Formula One's latest crisis has been handled on Wednesday, saying he feared for the sport's future.
Speaking in the wake of a French court's decision to reject Ferrari's bid for an injunction to halt the International Motoring Federation (FIA)'s cost-capping plan, the 29-year-old Spaniard said he was also concerned for his own dreams in Formula One.
As the teams gathered around their plush high-rise motorised headquarters parked in the famous harbour here on the eve of this weekend's 67th running of the classic Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso, and then Ferrari, hinted that this Sunday's race may be their last in the Mediterranean principality.
For the time being, at least.
"If the big teams and the big manufacturers leave F1, then I don't want to race with small teams because it is not F1 any more - and there are many other categories," said Alonso.
"For me, it's strange that nobody sat down and thought about how much we are damaging the sport.
"To have three or four new teams and lose six or seven of the big manufacturers - I can't understand it. And, not only losing only seven manufacturers, but also losing the 10 best drivers in the world. It means F1 loses everything and is not interesting any more."
Shortly after Alonso had hit out at the crisis that has forced most of the major manufacturer-backed teams to threaten not to re-sign for 2010 before the FIA's deadline of May 29, Ferrari issued a formal statement in reaction to the verdict of the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris.
In this, the team said it would not race in a 'watered-down version' of Formula One, complete with a host of new small-budget teams, and again hinted that it may take part in a breakaway series.
"If it is not possible for all parties to reach agreement, then in line with the decision of the Main Board (of Ferrari), taken on May 12, Ferrari will not enter its cars in a competition that, with the planned scenario in place, would see a watering down of the characteristics that have endowed F1 with the status of the most important motor sport series," said the statement.
It added that the status of F1 had led specifically to Ferrari's uninterrupted participation since 1950.
In a final swipe, the statement said: "In this situation, Ferrari will continue to compete in races of a calibre worthy of the marquee, matching its level of innovation and technological research."
FIA president Max Mosley said: "No competitor should place their interests above those of the sport in which they compete. The FIA, the teams and our commercial partners will now continue to work to ensure the well-being of Formula One in 2010 and beyond."The French court's rejection of Ferrari's bid for an injunction and the continuing controversy over the future of the sport left a shadow hanging over the paddock.
Alonso's Renault team is one of those who have pledged to pull out if the budget-capping plans are not reconsidered and agreed by all members of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA).
Ferrari, BMW, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Toyota have also said they will not sign for 2010 as things stand.
The FIA welcomed the French court's ruling that the team did not have any valid reason to stop the planned budget cap going ahead.
FIA president Max Mosley said: "No competitor should place their interests above those of the sport in which they compete. The FIA, the teams and our commercial partners will now continue to work to ensure the well-being of Formula One in 2010 and beyond."
Ferrari, in an immediate response, said that it was dismayed by the quality of the teams lined up to enter Formula One next year if the budget cap is introduced.
The Italian team believed it had the right to a veto of any technical rule changes in Formula One and claimed that this right, agreed with the FIA, had been breached by the way the budget-cap plan was executed.
"The court believed that the right of veto should have been exercised during the (FIA) World Council meetings of March 17 and April 29," said Ferrari, in its statement.
It said the FIA had drawn up the new regulations (for 2010) unilaterally and without respecting agreed procedures.
It was revealed in court that the teams considering taking up any vacancies in F1 next year include Wirth Research, Lola, USF1, Epsilon Euskadi, RML, Formtech, Campos and iSport.
In a scathing remark, Ferrari suggested this signalled F1 downgrading to become GP3.
Ferrari driver Brazilian Felipe Massa added: "You see many teams trying to get into F1 next year, but if you lose Ferrari and gain new teams, it won't be the same.
"It would be nice to have more sport and less politics - but I am afraid it is not over yet."
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