Webber: Breakaway series appealing

With F1 edging closer to the possibility of a split after talks between the FIA and FOTA to find a solution to the row over costs stalled on Monday, fears about a breakaway championship are increasing.

Writing in his BBC column, Webber said he was saddened that the political situation was going to overshadow this weekend's British GP - but said that he fully supported the stance adopted by FOTA.

"It's a great shame that, for the second year in a row, we're not even going to able to go to Silverstone and concentrate on a great venue and a great race," wrote Webber.

"Friday is the day of the latest deadline in the political row that's going on in Formula 1 at the moment, and the papers are going to be full of all that nonsense, when it should be about [Jenson] Button and the drivers competing in the British GP.

"It's disappointing that it has ended up this way, with the teams in a stand-off with the FIA, the governing body, over its plans to change the rules next year and introduce a £40m budget cap

"Collectively everyone has played a role in trying to help and protect the sport and you just see all that effort down the years being devalued or diluted through some pretty radical ideas."

"It's good to have some stability, to be able to predict what's going to happen, not have different things going on every six months."

He added: "All the drivers share the same view. We want to drive for the best teams and race against the best drivers. If it's not the FIA Formula 1 world championship, so be it. It'll still be the most prestigious championship.

"Ferrari are crucial. Everyone wants to beat them and McLaren. They're awesome teams and big set-ups who've taken years to get into that situation, they are respected and we want to beat these guys.

"It's the first time ever pretty much all the teams have the same view. For the sake of the sport, the main constructors and people who have the real vision believe they need to take a stand.

"It doesn't have to be this way but it's been pretty predictable. There have been lots of little ding-dongs going on over the last few years."