‘F1 faces troubled future without cheaper engines’

Although Bernie Ecclestone fears there is "trouble ahead" for F1, he concedes if he was Mercedes or Ferrari he would also not want to change the status quo.

While Formula 1's top teams attract the big-money sponsorship and claim the bulk of the prize money, the sport's smaller teams are struggling to make ends meet.

This was compounded by the introduction of 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines which reportedly cost double the price of their predecessors.

As such Ecclestone and FIA President Jean Todt are both pushing for the introduction of either budget engines or a cap on the cost of engines.

"Until we get an engine that can be built at a lot less cost, yes, there will be trouble ahead," Ecclestone told BBC Sport.

The 85-year-old, though, acknowledges that it won't be easy pushing through any changes to F1's engine regulations as both Mercedes and Ferrari have a say.

"If we have a meeting of the F1 Commission and these two guys decide on something, which they do together, they have enough votes to stop anything going through, so they are controlling F1," he explained.

However Ecclestone concedes that if he was in their position he would also not want to rock the boat.

He added: "Frankly, if I was either of them, I would be in the same position."