Ecclestone: Formula 1 is Ferrari

Mosley and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo have been at loggerheads since the governing body decided to introduce a budget cap for the 2010 season, meaning Formula 1 would become a two-tier championship.

The FIA president said Formula 1 could survive without Ferrari, the only team who has competed in every championship since 1950.

Ecclestone feels Mosley was just trying to hit back at di Montezemolo, and said Formula 1 is the perfect place for Ferrari.

"I don't think Max really meant what he said, he was just having a go at Luca a little bit," Ecclestone told Reuters.

"Formula One is Ferrari and Ferrari is Formula One. It's just a marriage made in heaven, one of those super things that work well."

The F1 supremo also reckons the Italian squad will return to the top following a poor start to the 2009 season.

"They'll catch up," said Ecclestone. "I think with (Jean) Todt gone, we've gone a little bit back to the way it was before Todt went there."