Formula One's tortured start to the season continued yesterday when a row over money flared up between the 10 teams and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) issued a statement to clarify reports of a stormy meeting with 78-year-old Ecclestone in London ahead of this weekend's Australian season-opener.

"The purpose of the meeting was to discuss payment of money owed by CVC (the effective owners of the commercial rights to Formula One) to the teams and relates to agreed sums owing from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 championship years," it said.

Ecclestone disputed that.

A statement posted on the official Formula One website by his Formula One Administration accused FOTA of making "inaccurate and misleading" comments.

"Neither CVC nor FOA owes any amount to any team," it said.

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and FOTA vice-chairman John Howett had met Ecclestone on March 18.

Britain's Times newspaper reported subsequently that Briatore and Dennis had threatened to organise a boycott of tomorrow's race unless Ecclestone paid up.

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