Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that to generate more interest in the sport,  engine equality among the teams must be considered.

The 87-year-old, who was ousted by new owners Liberty Media in January 2017, has stated that the same teams winning the majority of races makes the sport less attractive.

A look at the list of Grand Prix winners last season tells its own story, with Mercedes taking 12 of the available 20 wins, Ferrari lagged behind on five wins, and Red Bull the only other team to challenge with three wins.

Even more starkly, Mercedes took 15 of the pole positions available last season, with Ferrari picking up the remaining five.

This apparent lack of competition in the sport has prompted Ecclestone to call for more regulation from the sports governing body to encourage greater equality between teams and therefore closer races.

Ecclestone told Welt newspaper: "I'm a big fan of Mercedes, I have great respect for their performance. But they win too much.

"If they had sold or rented their engine to a top team like Red Bull, we would have better and more exciting races and maybe other world champions.

"We would not have had this total dominance, which in my opinion would have better for Mercedes as well.

"Not much has changed in the technical and sporting regulations. That's surprising, because the biggest problem is that we urgently need exciting races.

"They should, or they must, achieve a certain equality of opportunity among the teams as far as the engines are concerned.

"The manufacturers must understand that it's necessary to make the sport more attractive.

"The public must not know who wins even before the race just because one or two engines are so much better."

It would appear that the stats back up Bernie's calls with the fastest lap at each Grand Prix being claimed seven times by Ferrari and nine times by Mercedes.

The points in the Constructors' Championship paints another grim picture for teams other than Mercedes with their total of 688 dwarfing third place Red Bull's 368.

If a similar pattern were to emerge this season, it seems increasingly likely that the sports governing body will have to listen to calls to increase the competitiveness of Formula 1.