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Formula One
F1: Controversy Over Slow Debuts Continues
The concern over the debut of Formula One's new teams is still being debated prior to this weeks opening round...
SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted March 10, 2010   GMM Newswire
Lotus made its on track debut at Jerez. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Bosses of the top outfits McLaren and Red Bull have issued differing views about the influx of small new teams in Formula One.
Heikki Kovalainen came to the Lotus team from McLaren and said he's never gone into a season with less testing. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

After Ferrari issued a scathing denunciation of Virgin, Lotus and HRT, McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale Tuesday called on the sport to support its newcomers.

"We have to try and get new teams off the ground and stabilize them as quickly as possible because we need it in view of the disappointing (team) losses," he said.

Neale did express some concern however about the Spanish outfit HRT, whose rookie lineup Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok will give the 2010 car its track debut on Friday.

"I'm sure that the FIA will look very closely at it and if there are big gaps in closing speeds and plenty of red flags, then they'll take the necessary actions," he said.

Former McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen, who switched to Lotus for 2010, said it is "great to hear" his ex-team is supportive.

However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was less diplomatic than Neale.

"We will just try to stay out of their way," he is quoted as saying by the Times. "The danger is the time difference is going to be so big - up to five seconds a lap - and the difference in the closing speeds is massive.

"The potential for them to cause an incident is reasonably high," added Horner.

Timo Glock, who raced for Toyota last year but has switched to Virgin, said the criticisms do not concern him.

"I don't care," he told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper. "I think that for the fans and for Formula One, it is a good thing if new teams can come in."

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