FIA to sue over breakaway

The eight members of FOTA - Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso - announced on Thursday night they would not sign up to next year's F1 world championship, and instead would now pursue a rival series.

Following meetings between FIA president Max Mosley and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in the Silverstone paddock ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix, motor sport's world governing body has now decided legal action is their only recourse.

Confirming their intentions, a statement read: "The FIA's lawyers have now examined the FOTA threat to begin a breakaway series.

"The actions of FOTA as a whole, and Ferrari in particular, amount to serious violations of law including wilful interference with contractual relations, direct breaches of Ferrari's legal obligations and a grave violation of competition law.

"The FIA will be issuing legal proceedings without delay. Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights."

The delay in confirming the entry list for next season will be welcomed by those who still hope a compromise deal can be brokered, although the FIA's reference to Ferrari in their statement only serves to highlight the complex nature of the rift.

As far as the FIA are concerned, Ferrari, plus Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, are contracted to enter F1 in 2010, hence the reason they were given an automatic entry by motor sport's world governing body last Friday.

Ferrari have long maintained, however, that contract, signed in 2005, was invalidated by the FIA when they failed to recognise the Scuderia's right of veto over the new regulations.

Mosley unilaterally announced the introduction of a voluntary £40million budget cap at the end of April without consulting the teams, most notably Ferrari, who have since played a leading role in FOTA's discussions with the governing body.