Ecclestone: I'm thinking of the fans

The top three teams - Ferrari, Williams and McLaren - have all made it clear that they are against handicapping those drivers who are successful.

But in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Ecclestone said: "I am thinking about the fans, the people who pay a lot of money to attend a grand prix and who don't want to be in the position of knowing the winner before the start of the race.

"I want a world championship where the big three teams will battle lap after lap, race after race."

Motorsport governing body the FIA sent a dossier of proposals to the teams, which included a handicap plan. Ecclestone argues that over the course of a season, the weight penalties would even out between the top drivers.

"What would happen if in 2003 Ferrari has a weak machine and McLaren a great one?" he said. "Let me repeat that the rules are not against anyone but in favour of a greater balance.

"I hope we would arrive at the last race of 2003 with teams on the same weight. That would say that the ballast was a great idea."