Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has issued public thanks to the team's fans for their support since the Scuderia's threat to leave Formula One.

Ferrari issued the ultimatum on Tuesday that unless the International Automobile Federation (FIA) changed its plan to set a £40-million budget cap next season, the only constructor to have spent every season in Formula One since its inception 60 years ago, would leave.

And since then, messages of support have poured in from all over the world.

"I want to thank you personally for the numerous messages of support we received from all over the world over the last hours on our website and via email," said Di Montezemolo in a statement published on Ferrari's official websote.

"It is important to know that we can count on the support of our fans all over the world and that our fans completely share the motives, which brought us to take such a decision.

"If we were forced to leave the Championship we were part of over the last 60 years of our history and where we set all the records in terms of victories, it is because they want to change the nature of its founding values.

"If it really was like that, then I have to say that our cars will race in other competitions, where — and I am absolutely convinced about that — they will find the enthusiasm and the passion of millions of fans, following us in every corner of the world.

"Racing is part of Ferrari?s DNA and this is something that will never change."

Ferrari's announcement was followed a day later by a similar claim by Renault while Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Toyota have previously also threatened to quit the sport unless changes are made to the regulations planned for 2010.