07/10/02: Eddie Jordan has welcomed proposals to introduce weight penalties for Formula One's most successful teams.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has muted the idea of handicapping dominant teams and drivers in the wake of this season's one sided championship.

Television viewing figures and attendances at circuits have fallen in recent months.

Speaking on BBC Radio, Jordan said: "Something has to be done. There are a number of different rules but the weight penalty is a very significant penalty, it is very easy to put in and manage. We need a healthy championship. I think it is an excellent way and a guaranteed way of levelling out the field.

"It's not just Michael Schumacher. He's been dominant now for such a long time he's probably the best-ever driver we've seen in the sport. He has made Ferrari something unbelievably special," Jordan said.

Jordan believes Ferrari could not be entirely happy with the consummate ease with which they stormed to the constructors' title.

"Quite clearly it is a little bit of an embarrassment for them," he said. "If they win like they should do this weekend in Japan they will have more points than all the other teams put together and quite clearly Ferrari don't want that". PA