Top teams, drivers, to exit decimated F1
The iconic Ferrari, enraged by the FIA's budget cap intentions, has been accused of self-interest and dramatic posturing, but its Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen told reporters: "I'm pretty sure we are going to disappear from formula one."
The 29-year-old, who won the drivers' title with the Maranello marque two years ago, said he is committed to staying with Ferrari in 2010.
"They will find something for me to do since they still have a contract with me. They are racing in many other categories," said Raikkonen.
Renault's Fernando Alonso, who before Raikkonen won the previous two world championships, also warned that the very fate of the premier category of single seater racing hinges on the outcome of this dispute.
"If everything is not settled, formula one is finished and the sport will turn into GP2 with a little more pace, but there won't be any interest in it as an event," the Spaniard warned.
Alonso, 27, said if a solution is not found, F1 will not only be lacking its biggest and most famous team names.
"I don't want to drive for a small team," he warned, and he said he will not be alone in looking elsewhere for a new premier series.
"If the seven teams go, formula one disappears. With unknown drivers, it's over. You'll lose the ten best drivers in the world," said Alonso.