Alonso: Ecclestone must heed drivers

The former world champion expressed his frustration at the controversial events of the past week, which saw the FIA World Motor Sport Council reject the Formula One Teams Association's proposal for a revised points system, and instead approve Ecclestone's suggestion that the title should go to the driver with the most wins regardless of his other scores.

This plan was then abandoned when FOTA queried the legality of making the change so late in the winter without the teams' consent, but Ecclestone is adamant that it will be in place for 2010.

However Alonso said Ecclestone's system did not have the backing of the drivers or fans, pointing out that FOTA made its suggestions on the basis of audience survey responses.

"FOTA gave a list of proposals, and they were very clear," he said. "For me they were very clever proposals as well, listening to the fans.

"We all more or less agree that the winner has to have something more than he has now, so maybe the 12 points, nine, seven was the better compromise, and in a better direction for the future than the wins (system).

"All the drivers and the teams think in that direction, so the FIA and Bernie cannot go against the world. If the fans, the drivers, the teams, they go in one direction, I think at the end they will follow that direction."

He believes the confusion over the points system in recent weeks has reflected badly on Formula 1.

"Unfortunately we had a bad last three or four weeks for our sport, with the change in rules and this attempt to change the world championship, to be decided by victories," Alonso said. "We are happy they regretted their decision and they went back to the normal points.

"But now there's this diffuser thing, and I think for the fans it is impossible to understand how Formula 1 can start a championship like this with so many doubts and so many changes. We will see when it's over, and then for race one we can talk about the sport, about having fun in the car, and hopefully the spectators will enjoy it."

The Spaniard sees no need for any radical change to the way the championship is decided, and said rules stability was now more important.

"Formula 1 has been for more than 50 years one of the greatest sports ever, followed by millions of spectators around the world," Alonso said.

"We saw the last three world championships decided in the last race, even last year decided in the last corner, so we cannot be too crazy about finding more show for the people. The show is enough. We just need to find some continuity."