Tony Fernandes has dropped a broad hint he has bailed out of the Leafield-based Caterham team.

It’s understood Fernandes has already sold the F1 arm of his operation, ending a tough four-and-half-year journey.

Although no details have officially been announced, in finally opting to close his account on Twitter last week, Fernandes said: “F1 hasn’t worked. Love Caterham cars.”

Fernandes made clear at the start of the season, at the announcement of his driver line-up car for this year in January at Caterham’s base, he was threatening to pull out.

His hopes for success have hit the buffers, with Caterham falling further behind back-of-the-grid rival Marussia, with the Banbury outfit ending their points drought in Monaco this year.

Caterham, meanwhile, have gone 85 races since their arrival in F1 in 2010 without collecting a single point, and now Fernandes has had enough.