Zoom Whatever the outcome, Hamilton sticks with McLaren

F1's reigning World Champion has joined other drivers and eight current Formula One teams in threatening to quit the FIA World Championship at the end of the season.

Outspoken 2005 and 2006 drivers' title winner Fernando Alonso has been widely quoted as saying he would "prefer to race in any other category before the new F1" if Max Mosley's budget cap is imposed in 2010.

His comments followed a meeting between the drivers of the FOTA-affiliated teams and officials of the alliance prior to Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.

Afterwards, Toyota's Jarno Trulli was nominated the drivers' spokesman on the issue, and experienced competitors including Nick Heidfeld, Mark Webber and Felipe Massa similarly fully backed the stance of the Formula One Teams Association.

"All the FOTA drivers are with FOTA in the future," said Red Bull's Webber.

Ferrari's Massa added: "If F1 is not possible because it is not F1 any more, then we will go to another championship."

2008 champion Lewis Hamilton is usually guarded when it comes to political matters, but on Monday he said he would not split with his FOTA member team McLaren Mercedes, even if a breakaway championship is established.

"I am under contract at my team and will go wherever they go. That's the way it is. That applies for all drivers," the Briton told Deutsche Presse Agentur in Stuttgart.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM