BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen has warned that his company could pull out of F1 if radical new plans to adopt a 2.4 litre V8 configuration are accepted.

As Formula One seeks to cut costs, one of the proposals put forward is that all engines should adopt the same basic configuration, namely 2.4 litre V8. Though several manufacturers have thus far refused to comment on the proposal, others appear to have accepted it. BMW, on the other hand, is dead against the idea, claiming that the easiest, and most efficient way to cut costs, would be to prolong engine life - as has also been proposed. Whereby engines currently have to last for a whole weekend, BMW believes they should have to last for several races.

Speaking ahead of the Canadian GP, at which one of its cars is on pole position, BMW's Theissen made it quite clear where the company stands.

"That would be a serious issue," he said of the proposal. "We have the same view we had from the beginning, we think if you really want to cut costs, the most efficient way to do that is to extend engine life and seriously restrict design of components. If you do that with a V10 you will come down to 800 horse-power and at the same time significantly cut costs.

"If we want to achieve something before 2008, we need to talk to each other and find some common ground because it can only be done unanimously," he added.

Asked about the possibility of BMW withdrawing from F1, he replied: "In this business you can't guarantee anything."