Formula One news

Whitmarsh: Breakaway attractive to new teams

Martin Whitmarsh believes that a breakaway championship from Formula One, formed by the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), is a positive route for new entrants to follow when wanting to compete against big names. Currently, all teams bar Williams and Force India stand to leave the sport at the end of the year.

With no solution found between FOTA and F1 governing body the FIA, rumours now circulate the Silverstone paddock that the likes of Lola Cars and N. Technology have recently pulled the plug on their F1 entries in order to approach the new FOTA-run series. "I think that, certainly, eight teams will be enough, but we would welcome any new teams or existing teams for that matter," explained Whitmarsh, team principal of McLaren. "I think a lot of teams want to be racing against the Ferraris, against the Red Bulls, the Brawns and hopefully ourselves."

The English continued to describe that, in his opinion, the sport should focus more on the desires of its followers. "Formula One has not done a good job, in my view, at developing a number of teams that compete or a series that the fans want," he continued. "There is a lot of opportunity to do a better job, to have some fresh energy.

"Whilst, inevitably, there is some sadness on a day like today (Friday, when FOTA teams announced their departure from F1), I think you have to be optimistic about the future and sometimes out of these challengers are new eras and new opportunities - we have to be positive."

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