Renault’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso believes Formula 1 is “finished” following the announcement of plans for a breakaway series.
On Thursday, eight of F1’s major teams, including Renault, said they intended to establish a rival championship.
And Alonso said that what was left of the old F1 would be inferior.
“Formula 1 is finished. It will be a standard engine, small teams and no drivers - this is not the Formula 1 people want,” the Spaniard said.
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The breakaway move is the latest chapter in the bitter row over budget cap proposals. BBC Sport
Alonso said: “There is no solution so it is sad news, but that is the way it is.”
“The new series will be very attractive, with the biggest teams and the best drivers so everything stays the same, just maybe not name. This will be the new F1.”
Former three-times champion Briton Sir Jackie Stewart, a long time adversary of Mosley, said that he felt the FIA president had “gone too far this time.”
He said: “Max’s way of ruling is bully-boy tactics - that’s why the teams have got fed up. Someone will stand up to a bully eventually and stop it. That’s the way it works.” Mid-Day
Speaking before the teams issued their breakaway threat, Alonso said: “I hope they find a solution, but these are difficult times. It is a critical position for Formula 1.
“If we do not race in Formula 1 next year it changes many things. It won’t be the same. We know we’ll race, but it will be different.”
Despite the controversy, FIA president Mosley expects the Formula 1 world championships to begin as usual next March, with the eight FOTA teams involved.
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He said: “Always with these things, in the end there is a compromise, because they can’t afford not to run in the Formula 1 world championship and we would be reluctant to have that without them.
“I don’t take this as seriously as some people do, because it’s all posturing and posing.
“It will all stop some time before March 2010 with the first race in Australia. It will all settle down.” Oxford Mail
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