It appears that Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are to take the FIA to arbitration over the sport's governing body's plans to implement a 2.4-litre V8 configuration in 2006.

All three manufacturers have made their unhappiness public, but now they intend taking the issue to law.

The problem is, that arbitration can tale many months to resolve. Indeed, the most recent case - whereby McLaren and WilliamsF1 argued that many of the 2003 rules had been introduced without sufficient notice - still hasn't been resolved, almost two years later.

BMW, Honda and Mercedes-Benz believe that the 2.4 litre V8 configuration, due to be introduced in 2006, goes against the Concorde Agreement, which contains a clause stating that the 3-lite V10 configuration will remain until 2004.

Max Mosley however, has argued that the changes are being made not only to curb costs, but more importantly on safety grounds. He claims that article 7.5 of the Concorde Agreement allows for such an amendment to the rules.

Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have warned that they could seriously reconsider their involvement in F1 if the new engine rule is introduced. It's due to be voted on by the World Motorsport council later this month.

Renault and Ferrari both seem keen on the new engine format, indeed Ferrari is understood to have a development programme in place.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Honda all argue that it is not that they are totally against the introduction of the proposals, but the way in which they have been introduced.

Most manufacturers claim that a far easier solution to the speed/safety issue, would be to reduce revs to 18,000.