Ecclestone backs breakaway with 'GP1 Series'

Bernie Ecclestone has filed trademark applications that indicate he is ready to back the breakaway plans.

Britain's Sunday Express newspaper reveals he, through one of his companies Epsilon Ltd, applied for ownership of the words 'Formula Grand Prix' and 'Formula GP' on June 19.

June 19 was the day on which FOTA originally launched its intention to break away from the official F1 series.

On the same date, Ecclestone also lodged applications to protect 'GP1' and 'GP1 Series' logos, which can be previewed by doing a public search at the European trademark consultation service website.

Also trademarked by Epsilon recently were logos for a junior series called GP3, meaning that if FOTA was to turn to Ecclestone for help with its breakaway, it could operate with GP1, GP2 - the existing F1 support category - and GP3 under a uniform umbrella.

The potential involvement not only of the eight FOTA teams but also Ecclestone and F1's commercial owners CVC would pile enormous pressure on FIA president Max Mosley to back down.

The next crucial date in the political saga is Wednesday, when FOTA could be ready to sign off its Cost Regulation contract and all parties enact a new Concorde Agreement.

Only minor disagreements are presently holding back full agreement on the proposed technical regulations.

If the FIA further dithers, it is on Wednesday that FOTA is warning it will press ahead definitively with its breakaway.

Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "Next week we will have peace in Formula One. We will all agree and there will only be one series."