Powerful engine manufacturers Ferrari and Mercedes on Friday said claims by Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone that they were running the sport like a cartel were ridiculous.

Ecclestone, the sport's commercial supremo, said last month that Mercedes and Ferrari held too much power and he has found himself unable to influence their choice of customers.

"This sort of thing is what is commonly known as a cartel. And cartels are illegal," Ecclestone was quoted in a British newspaper

"We are running something that is illegal. On top of all that it is anti-competitive."

But when Ecclestone's views were put to the team principals of Ferrari and Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Friday they went on the attack.

"I think this talk of a cartel is simply ridiculous," said Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene at a news conference of several team bosses.

"Everybody are doing their job, they try to do their best.

"I have to say, it's strange because in this world you have to be careful sometimes because, if you are talking a bit more with somebody, if I'm going to go to the dinner with Toto (Wolff) or Cyril (Abiteboul), I do a cartel? It's simply a dinner!"

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff agreed: "I don't think there is any cartel around here, nor is the sport run as a cartel.

"Bernie is always good for controversy and throwing one in. If that were to run like a cartel, we wouldn't be sitting here.

"Some of us are part of multi-national global companies and we're taking compliance very seriously. So it just causes headlines, but nothing else."

Renault's Abiteboul also agreed, saying: "I would not agree with that definition of cartel for the simple reason that we are all in a competitive environment.

"You have to accept that only a limited number of manufacturers have the financial capacity to subsidise the cost of the technology in accordance with the current regulation that we have all accepted. So no, I would not concur with that view."

But Red Bull chief Christian Horner said he understood Ecclestone's frustrations over the issue.

"I think his comments are borne out of frustration of being unable to influence change," said Horner.

"You've got a dynamic in Formula One at the moment where the manufacturers collectively have a lot of strength. That primarily is through the technical regulations and the current situation regarding the power unit.

"I think Bernie's frustration as a promoter is that he can't influence that at this point in time."

The season-opening Australian Grand Prix takes place in Melbourne on Sunday.
Source: AFP