A "worried" Fernando Alonso says he would not be interested in continuing his Formula 1 career if there was a manufacturer exodus at the end of the season over the budget cap row.
The Spaniard’s Renault team is one of four owners to publicly put its F1 future on the line over the optional £40 million cap, with it and rivals Ferrari, Toyota and Red Bull all vowing to quit unless the rules are changed.
With the teams’ stand-off with the FIA continuing and Ferrari having failed on Wednesday in its bid to take an injunction out to stop the rules, two-time champion Alonso has admitted that he is “very worried” about his future in the sport.
He confesses it was difficult not to fear about his long-term F1 prospects as he watched the political storm escalate last week, adding that he would look to race elsewhere should the major car makers leave and small teams take their place.
“I try to switch off and concentrate on the business and here that I’m in Monaco obviously I will be 100% with the grand prix, with the weekend,” he told reporters.
“But it is true that last week when I was at home it was impossible to switch off because I don’t know if this will be my last time in Monaco because if the big teams, the big manufacturers, are leaving Formula 1 of course I don’t want to race with small teams because it is not anymore Formula 1 and there are many other categories.”
Alonso admits he is surprised that the sport’s power brokers have allowed the disagreements over the 2010 regulations to spill over into a full-blown public row, saying he feels the sport has been damaged by recent arguments.
He believes F1 would be dealt another severe blow if a mass manufacturer exodus did indeed take place, warning that the sport’s top stars would also follow.
“It’s strange that no one sits down and thinks how much we are damaging the sport, how much damaged the sport has been in the last two months,” Alonso questioned.
“To really enter those three or four new teams and losing seven of the big manufacturers I cannot understand – and not only losing seven manufacturers, also losing the best 10 drivers in the world.
“So it becomes no more interesting, Formula 1.”
The Spaniard confirmed to reporters that he would be attending this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours race, admitting he would like to one day compete in the prestigious sports car event.
However, he said that should his worst F1 fears play out, he would aim to re-start his motor racing career in a year-long championship.
“I hope to race more than one race a year,” he added.
“Obviously I’m 27 and I’m two times world champion and I’d like to win more categories and series.”