MOTOR SPORT: THE THREAT of a breakaway series continues to lurk menacingly in the background as Formula One Teams Association (Fota) yesterday refused to buckle in the ongoing war with FIA president Max Mosley.

That was the underlying message emerging from the paddock at the Nurburgring, despite the peace pact drawn up between Mosley, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Fota chairman Luca di Montezemolo two weeks ago.

The goalposts have shifted since, with BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen pointing the blame at “irritating elements” for the latest discord to blight Formula One. Behind the scenes, it is understood the eight-member teams of Fota are refusing to sign a new Concorde Agreement – the confidential document that governs the commercial side of the sport – unless they have cast-iron assurances Mosley will not stand again for the presidency.

In an FIA statement yesterday with the headline “Setting The Record Straight” after Fota on Wednesday stated the future of F1 was again “in jeopardy”, the governing body have claimed the signing of the agreement could be done “in the coming days”.

That was dismissed as “over-optimistic” by Theissen, with the 700-word draft seemingly viewed as little more than FIA propaganda. The bottom line would appear to be that Mosley, who suggested he would stand again after becoming infuriated with Fota’s “victory” celebrations in the wake of the €46.5 million budget cap being scrapped, must go if the sport, as we know it, is to survive.

It is believed high-level talks have taken place between the teams and senior figures above Ecclestone at CVC – the commercial rights holders – who are determined to protect their €1.7 billion asset.

Toyota Motorsport president and Fota vice-chairman John Howett did not wish to be drawn, other than to say: “The commercial rights holder understands what’s required to get our signatures on the Concorde Agreement, and agreement with them is very close.”

With regards the prospect of a breakaway, Howett added: “It’s still there, but we still have to act in a professional and sensible way. I don’t think we’ve ever taken it away. We’ve just put it on the backburner, although it is probably closer now than it was 24 hours ago. But we know exactly what we expect, what we need to get, and we are making positive progress.”

This latest round of politicking will only further anger the fans who simply want to see the best cars on the grid with the world’s best drivers at the wheel next year.

“All we have to do is apologise to the public,” remarked Howett. “At the moment they should trust us because we know exactly where we’re going, we’ve the alternative still on the table, and we are making progress with the important parties.”

The fear is there may come a point when a breakaway series becomes impossible, and F1 is still governed by Mosley. But Howett said: “We build racing cars very quickly. There are plenty of circuits, and there are many television production companies that do huge external broadcasts such as the Olympics and the World Cup . . . . We feel it can go longer before we reach the point of no return, so don’t worry. Relax.”