Whitmarsh: Interest strong in breakaway

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FIA president Max Mosley may have described FOTA's announcement of a rebel championship as posturing and posing, but the eight teams concerned appear deadly serious.

Asked if eight teams could sustain a rebel series, and whether FOTA would welcome the likes of Lola and Prodrive, Whitmarsh replied: "I think eight will be enough. But we would welcome any new teams, or existing teams for that matter, and certainly there has been an expression of interest from some of the teams you mentioned."

He added: "I think a lot of teams want to be racing against the Ferraris, Red Bulls, Brawns, and hopefully ourselves.

"Formula One has not done a good job in my view at developing a number of teams that compete, at developing a series the fans want, and there is a lot opportunity to do a better job, to have some fresh energy.

"Whilst inevitably there is some sadness in a day like Friday (when the FIA issued proceedings against all eight teams), I think you have to be optimistic about the future.

"Sometimes out of these challenges are new eras, new opportunities, and we have to be positive.

"We've had quite a lot of interest from some other teams that want to be part of the new series, and we are going to do everything we can to encourage them to be a part of it.

"Just as FOTA has already demonstrated its assistance to retaining teams and assisting the independent teams, that has to be part of the ethos of any organisation."