Zoom Alonso defends the pillars of the sport

The FIA should weigh considerations about Formula One's future rules with the wishes of its existing teams, according to Fernando Alonso.

Speaking at a sponsor event on Tuesday, the Spaniard - whose employer Renault has threatened to quit the sport over the budget cap row - said he has sympathy for the rebel teams' position.

Ferrari, Red Bull and Toyota have also clearly threatened to walk away over the FIA row, and Alonso believes their concerns should be listened to seriously.

"What has made Formula One the spectacle it is are the great teams," the 27-year-old told the Spanish newspaper Diario AS.

"For that reason it is not right to leave them to one side in favour of trying to get three new teams to come in," Alonso said.

For fear of more Honda-like departures, Max Mosley is proposing the imposition of low budget caps from next year, while raising the number of vacant two-car teams from 12 to 13.

"In the Premier League it would be unthinkable to have vacancies so there has to be something wrong," the FIA President said.

Alonso, however, believes the fear of turning off F1's existing names should at least be considered over the desire for new, smaller outfits.

"It is not that the big teams don't want them (new teams), but you can't just try everything so they can come in and then lose seven of the teams that made Formula One what it is," he said.

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM