BMW Could Leave if F1 Adopts V8 Engines

German engine manufacturers BMW have warned they could pull out of Formula One if their rivals refuse to back their preferred route to cutting costs in the future.

Manufacturers have been asked to find ways to cut costs in half by 2008 and BMW want to do that by extending engine life while retaining the current engine format of a V10.

Most of the other manufacturers want a change to a V8 format but BMW boss Mario Theissen believes that will not cut costs enough and could prove to be a turning point in their future in the sport.

"It would be a serious issue for BMW (if the majority favoured V8 route) and in this business you cannot guarantee anything," said Theissen when asked if BMW would leave. "We have the same view we had from the beginning - we think if you really want to cut costs the most efficient way to do that is to extend engine life and seriously restrict design of components.

"If you do that with a V10, you will come down to 800hp and at the same time significantly cut costs. We still propose this solution. We used to be the only one but I think Mercedes are re-thinking their position.

"If we want to achieve something before 2008, which is obviously desirable, we need to talk to each other and find some common ground because it can only be done unanimously."