Ferrari says it is sad about BMW's decision to leave Formula 1, but the Italian squad downplayed the significance of the exit, saying car makers coming and leaving is just part of the sport's nature.

BMW revealed on Wednesday it will leave the sport at the end of the 2009 season following plans for a "strategic realignment." The German squad's exit comes amid continued speculation about the involvement of manufacturers like Renault or Toyota.

Ferrari said Formula 1's history has seen a lot of important car makers come and leave, and the Italian squad made it clear it remains fully committed to the sport.

"Over the last 60 years of the continuous participation of Ferrari in the Formula 1 World Championship we've seen many teams and some important constructors come and go," a spokesperson for the team said. "This is a characteristic of this sport, although we are sad about BMW's decision.

"Ferrari will continue to engage itself wholeheartedly for a new era in Formula 1, composed of stable rules and extreme technological research accompanied by paying close attention to the environment and a growing spectacle as well as greater participation of the fans and of all our sport's components."

French car maker Renault on Thursday announced a 2.712 billion euro net loss for the first half of the year, but it said it is expecting a positive cash flow for the full year.