The problem with three car teams

In fact, the Concorde Agreement, by which Formula 1 is governed, decrees that if the number of competing cars falls below a certain number, then there is actually an obligation on teams to run extra cars.

Speaking on the subject, Williams technical director Patrick Head said: "I hope Arrows does manage to continue but I've heard the subject mentioned and it's a considerable extra cost to run another car. Before it could be done we'd have to work out what mechanism would achieve the income that would allow it."

He added: "It's also got some downsides in that generally the top teams are pretty reliable now. We haven't been for the last two or three races, but generally the top teams are, and at the moment with Ferrari, Williams and McLaren, it takes one of those teams to break down for the middle teams to pick up fifth and sixth place.

"If the top teams have three cars each, that's the first nine positions filled, so four of them have to break down before a middle ranking team can get a point. But we're not at that stage yet and I hope that F1 can be strengthened, so that we can continue to run with 10-plus teams."

If the stage is reached when three cars becomes a reality, one mooted suggestion is that only two would be eligible for points.