Alain Prost believes it is "absolutely impossible" for F1’s newest teams to ever break the dominance of the sport’s top five.
He is referring to small privateers Caterham (formerly Lotus), Marussia (formerly Virgin) and HRT (formerly Hispania), who were enticed into formula one in 2010 following the departures of manufacturers Honda, BMW and Toyota.
As well as winning four championships as a driver, Frenchman Prost also ran his own team between 1997 and 2001, when it succumbed to financial problems.
The Russian website F1News asked Prost what advice he would give to F1’s current tailenders.
"I will say quite frankly that they cannot become competitive in today’s formula one," he answered. "It’s impossible.
"They can make some progress, but - of course - you must immediately put the question ’What goals do they pursue?’
"To break into the top five with a new team like this in formula one — it is absolutely impossible," said Prost.