F1 set for four-car teams?

Speaking in Monaco, Ecclestone predicted that the current financial climate could force some F1 teams to shut down and that a rethinking of the rules was required to ensure full grids.

"What some teams must realise is that they are sitting in a high-powered poker game but, as the ante is upped, maybe they don't have enough cash to stay in," he said. "I'm sure we are going to lose one or even two teams before the season is over.

"It costs very little more to produce four cars. In fact, teams will be here in Monaco with two extra cars they will not run. We have always based the sport on a grid of 20 cars not the number of teams.

"It would make the grid more competitive if you had more of the top cars running against each other. Imagine four Mercedes, four Ferraris, four Renaults, that sort of thing."

Ecclestone also warned Ferrari that it risks damaging the image of the sport by orchestrating another formation finish as it did in the Austrian GP.

"Ferrari would be ill-advised to do such a thing in the future," said Ecclestone. "The only time I would condone it would be if the world championship hung on it. But Michael is 27 points clear."