It appears that the five manufacturers that comprise the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA), are moving closer towards a deal with Bernie Ecclestone, which would assure the future of F1, as we now know it, and end the threat of a breakaway series.

German magazine Sportbild quoted Ecclestone as saying that a deal could be in place before the season opener in Bahrain.

Speaking to AP, Xander Heijnen, spokesman for the GPMA, said: "We've moved considerably forward in our talks and the chances of an agreement soon have grown significantly."

However, though many appear to be focussing on the financial side of the talks, there are numerous other issues regarding F1 that worry the manufacturers, one being the governance of the sport. In recent weeks, several prominent Motorsport Directors of F1 manufacturers have been critical of the way the FIA has changed the rules and its proposed plans for 2008.

Furthermore, its understood that the manufacturers feel that more should be done for the customers of the sport, namely the race fans, with the current debacle regarding the on-off Belgian Grand Prix being a prime example of how F1 lets the fans down.

Publicly, Ecclestone has always dismissed the threat of a breakaway, saying that it "never really had a chance", however, it's believed that privately he viewed the threat with growing concern.