Dennis reckons all teams will commit to F1

With both Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association admitting this month that they are close to reaching a deal, Dennis reckons the threat of a breakaway championship is ready to go away.

"I think everybody that is currently in F1 will be in F1 in 2008 on the basis of this issue," Dennis said ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. "Maybe there are teams who would choose not to participate, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding F1."

Dennis admitted his own team will want to remain in Formula One and he believes the sport will be in better shape once an agreement is reached.

"We are an F1 team and if F1 exists then we want to be in F1," he said. "We are not going to put ourselves in a position where we cannot compete. There is an acceptance by everyone involved that it would be difficult to put together another series for 2008, not impossible, but difficult.

"But that has never been our objective. Our objective has always been to find a way forward that works to the best of our ability for everyone. There is always compromise in these situation but generally F1 will be winner."

Dennis's outfit are one of five teams who are yet to commit to Formula One. The others are world champions Renault, BMW, Honda and Toyota.

Ecclestone said last week he expected the issue to be settled before the race in Bahrain this weekend, and although that looks unlikely now, Dennis admitted the situation is looking very positive.

"I feel there is a very positive mood and a positive desire to move things forward and find solutions to the problems. It has been a very long process but I think it is important to remember we are talking about 2008 and in any process there has to be some compromise at the appropriate time.

"I think the appropriate time everybody recognizes is now and everyone involved in the process is determined to take their own decisions in terms of the long term interests of F1. And if F1 benefits by way of growth then clearly everyone involved in F1 benefits because we are effectively now in a sharing process rather than a fixed income supplemented by television revenue.

"So it is a better way forward for F1 and it incentives everyone to make F1 better."

FIA president Max Mosley said recently that those teams threatening to break away from Formula One risked losing their spot if they didn't commit soon.

And although Dennis believes Mosley was serious, he admitted he had not given much thought to the warning.

"I think he is quite serious, but I haven't applied much thought to it at the moment. I know the date is not too far away at the moment but I have been concentrating on the economic model (of the team) and I think we are, with the announcement yesterday, extremely strong for the next few years."

McLaren announced yesterday that Dubai-based Emirates Airline will sponsor them this season.