There was no immediate comment from the FIA or Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Former champions Williams and Force India have already committed unconditionally to the FIA's world championship along with three new entrants - Campos, U.S. F1 and Manor -- who have yet to build any grand prix cars.

The FIA has put another group of applicants on hold pending the outcome of talks with existing teams although one would-be new entrant, chassis maker Lola, has already withdrawn its application.

It remains to be seen whether the new entrants, who have all agreed to race with a 40 million pounds ($65.59 million) budget cap, will still be willing to commit to a series without glamour teams such as Ferrari and McLaren.

The stage is also set for a legal battle, with the FIA saying champions Ferrari and the two Red Bull teams have contracts that commit them to the existing championship.

Sponsorship and broadcast deals will also come under scrutiny with television networks facing the loss of the big name teams and drivers that bring in the viewers.

The eight FOTA members met at Renault's Enstone headquarters on Thursday evening after receiving letters from FIA President Max Mosley urging them to drop their conditions and sign up.

Their statement accused the FIA and Ecclestone, who represents commercial rights holder CVC, of trying to divide them.

"The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored," the statement said. "Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006.

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