Those who have followed F1 over the years will be aware that team founder Enzo Ferrari was an emotional, forceful man, determined, and used, to getting his own way.

At a time we talk of manufacturers pulling out of F1, it must be remembered that the legendary Commendatore made many similar such threats in his time, often going as withdrawing from races.

There was serious talk in the early 90s, as Ferrari faced yet another season of failure, scraping together the odd win, of the Italian giant pulling out of F1, as the team tried to justify the cost of its race programme to the men in grey suits who had taken over the company in recent years.

Now, as the wrangling over the future of F1 continues, Ferrari boss Jean Todt has revealed that despite the Maranello outfit's phenomenal success in recent years - having won 6 successive constructors' championships and five successive drivers' championships - the stable of the cavallino rampante came close to pulling out of F1 for good.

"We are a small company and we have to cover the costs of Formula One," Told Kevin Eason of The Times. "We discussed very often leaving Formula One because it was costing too much money. Ferrari could have been in a position to stop being in Formula One. Yes, that is sure. The trend of the evolution of rising costs without extra revenues put the question on the agenda. At the end of the day, we have to act in the interests of Ferrari."

Despite its many years in the F1 wilderness - following Jody Scheckter's 1979 championship win, it was to be another 21 seasons before Ferrari powered another driver to the title - the Maranello team has remained not only a constant factor, but to many, the true spirit of F1, though some would question that today.

The loss of Ferrari is unthinkable, and the Italian team is fully aware of that factor.

At present, Ferrari is on one side of a widening chasm, seemingly with the FIA, while its nine rivals line up on the other side. The bitterness has been bubbling away for some time, but a shock deal with the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone, which dealt a hefty body blow to the Grand Prix world Championship, together with the Italian team's stance on the cost cutting proposals, are driving a wedge between the sides that could eventually tear the sport in two.

Furthermore, there is mounting resentment towards what some perceive as Ferrari bias at the FIA, in addition to the revelation that the Italian team is to given a (rumoured) $150m 'sweetener' by Bernie Ecclestone, as he attempts to stave off the threat from the GPWC.

"Sooner or later, the reality and the logic will take over," says Todt. "I understand that, for some, it doesn't make sense, but it will. We needed to agree the future for the sake of security. We couldn't just go off blind in a new direction and it was up to us to secure the future of Ferrari inside Formula One.

"We did not win a championship for 21 years, but we did not complain," he adds. "We live in a world where there is too much pride, too much ego and too many personal fortunes and the sport is paying the price for it. I don't care that nine other teams don't agree with us because I know we are doing a good job. We should try to find more agreement and be more sensible."