Former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has criticised WEC boss Gerard Neveu's decision to move the Fuji round of the upcoming 'superseason' to enable Fernando Alonso to compete with Toyota.
Of the five rounds to take place in 2018, the Japanese event, held at a circuit owned by Toyota, was the only event to clash with the Spaniard's Formula 1 schedule with McLaren but has now been resolved with the race re-organised for October 14.
The problem now, however, is many of the other WEC drivers will have to cancel their own commitment to compete at the Petit Le Mans at Road America which falls on the new date and Button isn't too pleased with the change.
"It’s a shame that a race is changed for one driver," the Briton tweeted over the weekend. The change hurts so many other drivers who have contracts in place.
"Also other categories like IMSA and Super GT where a clash will hurt their fan base," Alonso's former McLaren teammate, who is racing in Super GT this year, added.
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Earlier, WEC boss Neveu had insisted: “How can you imagine having someone like Alonso in your paddock, racing for Toyota, and say that we are going to Japan without him?" he told Motorsport.com this week.
“Fernando wants to fight for the [F1] world championship, he cannot miss one race. It was logical [to reschedule Fuji]."
He also claimed IMSA, the series which runs Petit Le Mans, understood the shift in date after benefiting from the double F1 champion's presence at Daytona last month.
"They have a good estimation of the added value of a driver like this in your paddock," Neveu added.
