Villeneuve: move won't slow down Alonso

That is the view of former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who claims that despite the tension caused at the team by Alonso's decision, the complete focus on winning will return once the season starts.

"You can have a bunch of problems, but once you get on a race weekend then any team wants to win and do the best that they can," said Villeneuve. "So at the end of the day, if you have a driver sitting in your car then you will do the best that you can do.

"No-one will try and make a bad job because if you are a driver and you try to go slow on purpose then it will affect your career in the long term. Everyone will work just as hard as they did in the previous years."

Villeneuve believes that Alonso and former champion Michael Schumacher will be the men to watch out for in 2006.

"Alonso is the champion so he is the man to beat," he added. "Year after year he has had some strong seasons, so there is no reason to believe he will not have a strong season next year.

"I am sure that Michael will be running at the front again. He didn't have a good season last year but when you have won so many championships and races then you are always dangerous."