McLaren believes that it is critical that Formula 1's new teams are stabilized as quickly as possible, for the good of the sport.
Following the withdrawals of BMW and Toyota at the end of 2009, and US F1's inability to make it to the grid this season, the Woking, UK-based team's managing director Jonathan Neale said that the newcomers, such as Virgin and Lotus, should be welcomed into the fold, rather than disregarded for any lack of experience at the top level.
"As a group, we have to be supportive in getting new teams off the ground," Neale said. "I respect greatly what the drivers are saying and one or two have raised concerns about it, but I think that's a matter for the FIA.
"We have to try and get as many new teams off the ground and stabilize them as quickly as possible because we need it in view of the disappointing losses of Honda, Toyota and BMW [since 2008]. I'd like to think that collectively we can achieve that."
Despite voicing his support for the new teams, Neale said that he expected the FIA to keep a close eye on their performances, and particularly that of the Spanish HRT squad, as its car will not turn a wheel until first practice in Bahrain this weekend.
"I wouldn't like to be an MD [managing director] with a car running for the first time on a GP Friday in terms of the reliability package. How do you dial it in with such limited running and so few tires?" he added. "I'm sure that the FIA will look very closely at it and if there are big gaps in closing speeds and plenty of red flags, then they'll take the necessary actions. And it's important that they do, because we don't want yet more casualties before the start of the season."