Were you to believe most of what you read in recent weeks, Ferrari, and Ferrari alone, is responsible for all that ails F1, and will be solely responsible should the British GP, or indeed any other current event, be missing from the 2005 calendar when it is finally formalised.

In Brazil, under the guidance of Paul Stoddart, nine of the F1 teams agreed to a proposal to cut costs, even though at the time of signing, the future of three of the signatories was highly uncertain, and to all intents and purposes remains so.

Suddenly, nine team principals, who cannot normally agree on whether it should be tea or coffee, still or sparkling water, found themselves in total agreement as to how costs can, and must, be reduced.

The proposal contained little of any real worth other than an agreement to reduce testing, once the season is underway, to a maximum of ten days.

Famously, Ferrari didn't sign the document, though for the most part Jean Todt's explanation has been widely ignored, as sections of the media prefer to cite the Italian outfit as the root of F1's malaise.

Ferrari being the threat to the future of the British Grand Prix is absolutely ludicrous, but at least it takes the heat off Bernie Ecclestone.

Furthermore, to have the teams squabbling amongst themselves, desperately searching for ways to reduce costs, plays nicely into the hands of FIA President Max Mosley.

Today, sections of the media are building on the anti-Ferrari frenzy, claiming that the Italian team enjoys an unhealthy advantage over its rivals, courtesy of tyre supplier Bridgestone. It is claimed that Bridgestone 'bankrolls" Ferrari's testing programme to the tune of £48m - yes forty-eight million pounds - twice as much as WilliamsF1, three times that of McLaren and four times that of Renault. Furthermore, just in case we'd forgotten, we are reminded that the Maranello outfit has two private test tracks.

Contacted by Pitpass, a Bridgestone spokesman described the claims as "ludicrous".

"Naturally the terms of our contract with Ferrari is confidential," he said. "However, the figures being quoted, and the claim that Bridgestone is bankrolling Ferrari's testing programme is utterly ludicrous."

Ferrari is portrayed as having an almost unfair advantage, which to 'man down the pub' will probably give the impression that the Italian team is killing the sport.

However, the fact is that Toyota has Paul Ricard, while BAR has just spent £40m on a new wind-tunnel.

The fact is that teams, at least those with the desire to win, will spend whatever it takes to achieve their goals, and should the test ban become law Ferrari would simply find another way - probably even more expensive than lapping Fiorano - to test its cars to perfection.

Sadly, it suits some parties to have Ferrari cited as the cause of F1's problems - the prancing horse makes a perfect scapegoat.