Gray-haired guitarist Damon Hill has told the powers that be on either side of the rules divide that a decision to fragment Formula One into two parallel rival series would do nothing but damage to the sport's debatable popularity.
Damon spoke out as rumours persisted that the Formula One Teams' Association have been making preliminary moves towards the feasibility of a breakaway. Rumours in the Spanish press have said that the teams have approached Carmelo Ezpeleta, the Moto GP boss, with a view to him helping to run the breakaway series, while few of the team bosses have dismissed the idea, though they have admitted that it would be a last resort.
With the dispute over the direction of the 2010 cost-cutting rules still looking no nearer a resolution, Damon has cited the damaging split in American single-seater racing as evidence enough that F1 should steer clear of that eventuality.
America's Indycar series split in 1995, with the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car Series running parallel to each other until the end of 2007. In that time, the sport's popularity dwindled, and NASCAR came through to rule the American motorsport roost.
"You only have to look over the pond to see what happens when you split a championship," Hill despaired, "It's difficult enough to draw people into one particular sport, so what will they make of two separate championships? It would just dilute it."
Which series would play the role of NASCAR in Damon's vision is unclear, but he also said that the number of political disputes throughout recent F1 history is turning fans off, so to speak.
"The last few years have been really appalling and lots of people have asked questions about the administration of the sport. That's what the issue is all about. It's entertaining in the same way that the Jerry Springer Show is - not for the right reasons - so it's a turn-off as well," Damon asserted, ignoring the viewing figures that Mr Springer generates.
Hill confirmed that Silverstone, which he runs as president of the BRDC, has not been sounded-out by anyone over the possibility of joining an alternative series now the track has lost the British Grand Prix contract to Donington Park. Though he was slightly mendacious when asked if the track would sign up was an offer made.
"Clearly, it has occurred to everyone that there may be a need for venues if there is going to be another championship," Hill confirmed rather pointlessly, "But we value our relationship with F1 since 1950 and we want that tradition to continue. But we're a business too so if something came along then clearly there would have to be discussion." So that's cleared that up then.
Damon's comments came after Bernie Ecclestone said he would fight any new series aggressively, particularly over F1's current assets such as sponsors, team personnel and broadcasters.
"If they do try to set up their own series - and I don't think they will be able to – there are big problems ahead for them," Ecclestone screamed, "Apart from my contracts with teams, if somebody went to any of our contracted people, companies, television contractors, we would view it very seriously.
"That would be inducement to breach contracts and I don't do that myself, so I won't stand back and let it happen. Any action could run to hundreds of millions of pounds, who knows how much?"
Ecclestone did, though, say that the prospect of a breakaway series was very slim, given the enormous costs the teams would incur getting the thing off the ground.
"I'm not sure that the boards of teams such as Toyota and BMW, who are already looking to cut costs in F1, would sympathise and bankroll their teams going off to a series which would not be the FIA F1 championship," he said. "It costs a lot of money to set up a series.
"Right now, we supply the venues at no cost to the teams, they roll up with all their sponsors' names and money and race in front of a huge television audience which I supply through the contracts we win.
"That money flows back to the teams and they spend it. It would be different when they have to provide all the venues, hire their own race people, find their own television companies – and we have the best – and promote it."
Tomorrow, the stuff will hit the turning vane, as the FIA make a final announcement on the 2010 entry list.
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