Despite calls for calm from Mercedes, Ferrari have refused to play down threats to quit Formula One and start their own rebel series.
Chairman of the Italian motorsport giant, Sergio Marchionne, has put new F1 owners Liberty Media on notice, threatening to leave the category over proposed engine rules for 2021 when new team agreements begin.
And ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes fellow unhappy campers Mercedes will join the Scuderia out the exit door.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff balked at stoking the threat even further despite not agreeing with US group Liberty Media’s proposal for a cheaper, simpler engine to help level the playing field from 2021.
Mercedes have won the past four drivers’ and constructors’ world titles.
However Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene made it clear the threat was real ahead of Sunday’s season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
“Our chairman knows what he is talking about and should be taken seriously,” he said.
Ferrari may not have savoured their last drivers’ championship since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 but they are still a big deal.
The Scuderia are F1’s longest standing team, having competed in every world championship since 1950.
And the fan favourites are F1’s most successful team after amassing 229 race wins, 213 poles, 16 constructors’ championships and 15 drivers’ world titles.
It is more food for thought for Liberty Media who begin their first full season in charge since taking over in 2017 and ending Eccleston’s controversial 40-year reign.
Besides butting heads with Ferrari over the next engine formula, Liberty Media is also trying to address imbalance in prizemoney, revenue distribution and spending from 2021 when new team agreements start.
Wolff said there were clearly differences of opinion between teams and Liberty Media over the category’s future.
But he believed the teams were only speaking out because they cared about F1 and had its best interests at heart.
“We are all carrying the torch of a great series and a great brand that was built 50 years ago and has tremendous value and nobody is taking that lightly,” Wolff said.
“Comments that are being made from Mr Marchionne’s side … it is because he cares.
“I don’t want to speak for Maurizio but we all care for F1 and have a certain vision and way we want to see it going forward.
“We just need to give our input in the best possible way – we are not devaluing it.”