Bernie Ecclestone fears that the row over the budget cap means most teams will miss the deadline for entries for the 2010 season.

Ferrari, Toyota, Renault and the two Red Bull teams have threatened to quit Formula One unless next year's £40million cap is dropped.

Yesterday, Ferrari lost their bid to win an injunction against the plan while Toyota have now said they are unlikely to submit their entry for 2010 before the 29 May deadline.

Formula One supremo Ecclestone fears others will copy Toyota and said: “We'll have to wait and see but I think the majority probably won't put an entry in.”

The loss of any team would be a blow to F1, but the departure of Ferrari would hit the sport hardest.

“We don't want to lose Ferrari,” said Ecclestone. “I hope it's unlikely. I am concerned, I don't want them leaving. I don't think anybody does.”

Teams who adhere to the cap will be given greater technical freedom, which it is claimed would create a two-tier championship.

Toyota motorsport director John Howett said his team could not enter until a number of issues had been resolved.

“There is a high probability that we won't enter before the deadline because I don't think that those items will be clarified,” he said.

“If nothing changes I don't think that professionally it is possible to commit the company to do that. I can't recommend that in my position.”