I think it was Robert Synge, owner of Madgwick Motorsport, and for a short time team boss at BAR, who told me that when an F1 team heads out on the road to fight for the World Championship it is "like going to war".

It isn't simply about the mindset of fighting one's rivals for the title, but the logisitcs of moving one's 'army' around the world, not to mention the need for the best strategy. After all, when one watches the likes of Ross Brawn and his team on the pit-wall, it is very much like watching a commander and his generals running a battle campaign, keenly watching how his own 'troops' are progressing but also closely monitoring the enemy.

Yet now the teams face another war, and this time it is FIA President Max Mosley who has described it as such. For good measure, Mosley has also claimed that Formula One would survive without Ferrari, somewhat ironic when one considers that in the 'good old days' Enzo Ferrari only went F1 racing in order to finance his beloved Sports Car programme, particularly Le Mans.

Other than wondering if F1 can survive without Ferrari, and vice-versa, one has to question whether F1 could survive without Toyota, BMW, Renault and the Red Bull teams also. Then again, who was it who was so keen to drive out the little guys and populate the paddock with manufacturers in the first place?

Just over two months ago we were pondering the fate of the former Honda F1 team, awaiting news of the various potential purchasers, not to mention the hush-hush management buy-out. Then, on March 6, it was confirmed that a consortium led by Ross Brawn had bought the team, with the BGP 001 making its highly successful public debut just a few days later.

Two months down the line, and having won four of the five races thus far, fans are already complaining of a Brawn 'whitewash' and rival teams claim the season is already over.

It wasn't that long ago, that we had pre-qualifying with an entry lists featuring as many as 40 names, now we are struggling to field 20.

The FIA assures us that its budget cap will bring in fresh blood, but will this be at the expense of Ferrari, BMW et al, and if so, does it matter? While Toyota and BMW might not bring much passion to the sport, certainly on the outside, they do bring their expertise and their money and have caused the more established teams to raise their game.

While it is good to see a 'new order' do we really want to see some of today's big names consigned to F1 history in the same way as Lotus, Brabham, Cooper and so many more?

Spending has got out of control, and it is the sport's powers that be that allowed it to happen, after all, it was the sport's big spending image as much as its technical challenge that attracted many of the current entrants in the first place. However, is a budget cap the way to do it, especially when forced on the sport by Mosley in his usual combative, 'do as I say or else, manner.

While the sport would welcome new blood, in the light of the ongoing global financial crisis, how do we guarantee they have the staying power, especially if the manufacturers go ahead with their threat and leave the sport.

While some might relish the idea of a grid of Lolas, Prodrive Aston Martins and USGPEs, all powered by Cosworths, making those of us of a certain age somewhat dewy eyed, the sport has changed immeasurably over the last 30-odd years, and I am not sure the general public, those who this sport is really aimed at, would be quite as impressed... especially if Ferrari were taking on Mercedes and BMW in a rival series elsewhere, having taken the pick of the drivers with them.