Hamburg - It is up to world motorsport supremo Max Mosley to avoid a split in Formula One racing in a bitter dispute with eight major teams, former world champion Niki Lauda and ex-team boss Eddie Jordan said on Friday.

"It is Max Mosley's turn now," Lauda told the German N-TV news channel.

The eight teams, including Ferrari and championship leaders Brawn GP, organized in their body FOTA, said Friday they will start forming a new series after no compromise could be reached with Mosley's FIA over a budget cap the federation planned for 2010.

A split would leave F1 without is best teams and drivers. The FIA has a Friday deadline for entry and will announce the final 2010 grid on Saturday.

Lauda said that Mosley was to blame but expressed his hope that "the sabre rattling of FOTA leads to a compromise with Mosley."

Jordan suggested in an interview with the BBC that Mosley's days atop the FIA could be over in order to achieve a solution with the teams. He said that Mosley may have to accept not seeking another term as FIA president in autumn.

"It has become very serious, and heads will roll before this sorts itself out," Jordan said.

Mosley, who has presided over FIA since 1993, has been firm on the budget cap of around 60 million dollars, saying it is necessary to avoid another "financial arms race" in the sport.

He told the FOTA teams to register without conditions for 2010 before discussing possible changes, a move dismissed by the teams.

Former Swiss driver Marc Surer, now a TV analyst for the Premiere pay-TV network, spoke of a "test of strength" between Mosley and the teams which led to the escalation.

But he also called on Mosley to end the standoff at the 11th hour on Friday as otherwise it would lose "all big teams and all world champions." (dpa)