US Grand Prix 2014: Lotus, Force India and Sauber all threaten to boycott race as F1 enters financial turmoil Bob Fearnely, Force India's deputy team principal, said: "All options are open and have to be left on the table." That would suggest not taking part in Sunday's race. It's a very serious sitution and teams want to know where they stand. F1 is at a crossroads. How many more teams need to be driven out? The sport is in a crisis and it's got to be looked at. It's a very serious situation. One executive told The Times: "It is 50-50 whether it happens but what else is there? The small teams have complained for months and warned what was going to happen but no one listened. At a heated press conference in Austin on Friday, Sauber's team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, added: "It is one thing to talk about this terrible scenario but it is extremely disturbing for the people responsible for the sport to have let it come that far. It is a shame that we have turnovers of billions and as a sport we are not capable of making sure that 11 teams survive. However, Ecclestone was unmoved. The 84-year-old said: "If we lose another two teams that is what will happen. We need [small teams] if they are going to be there performing properly and not moving around with begging buckets. Lotus denied claims they were considering missing Sunday's event. "For an absence of doubt, we will be racing on Sunday," the team tweeted. That's kinda why we're here. Lotus owner Gerard Lopez added: "I've just found out about the story now, so my answer is no. I'm not aware of this. The potential boycott would ruin the good work done to repair Formula One's reputation in the US, and leave relations between the different teams on the grid at a low. Meanwhile, back in Oxfordshire, Marussia's 200 staff will not be paid from today, but administrators will ask those at Banbury to keep working in the hope a buyer can be found. It will be the employees" prerogative whether they go in to the factory on Monday or work from home. While a rescue deal remains unlikely, talks are still on-going. It is understood that some potential buyers are in Austin this weekend to speak to Ecclestone about the ailing team. The demise of Marussia and Caterham has left F1 red-faced in America, after stewards were forced to change the qualifying format. Four cars will be eliminated in both the first and second segments, before the top 10 shootout for pole position. Lewis Hamilton heads into Sunday's controversial race as the championship leader, 17 points clear of team-mate Nico Rosberg. The Briton exuded confidence on Friday, despite his fear that the championship could be swung by double points. Rosberg said he had no qualms about winning on account of the rule. Hamilton has reached such a state of ease he is even thought to be considering leaving Simon Fuller's XIX Management Company, striking out on his own. XIX negotiated his deal with Mercedes, which made him the richest sportsman in Britain, but those close to him concede he is looking to form his own team. Hamilton is often prone to changing his mind, yet the two sides are steadily heading for an amicable divorce. For now, he has a title to win and will consider his future more closely once the season is done. "It's almost like there was a wall in front of me and I was trying to climb it but couldn't quite get over it," Hamilton added. But I've got over it now.