- McLaren
Dennis would not block Alonso return
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis says he would not veto Fernando Alonso returning to the team, despite a rocky relationship with the Spanish driver when they last worked together.
Alonso drove just one season for McLaren in 2007 before leaving at the end of the year following a bust up with Dennis. The problems stemmed from team-mate Lewis Hamilton challenging Alonso for the title and took an ugly turn when Alonso threatened to go to the FIA with information relating to the spygate scandal.
In public Alonso insists he will honour his Ferrari contract, which expires in 2016, and may stay longer, but rumours this year have linked him with a return to McLaren. Dennis insists he would not block a move to poach Alonso from Ferrari if it boosted McLaren's competitiveness.
"One has to recognise the first objective of any grand prix team is to win races," Dennis told BBC Sport. "Whatever obstacles sit between a team wanting to win and winning, be it engineering, fiscal or human issues, you resolve them. You never say never."
The comments come after a year of speculation about Alonso's relationship with Ferrari, with Bernie Ecclestone touching on the subject in the foreword of the official Formula One season review.
"I've been a little disappointed in Fernando, because I'm a big supporter of him and Ferrari," Ecclestone wrote. "I thought he gave up a little bit, which is proof he was looking for another team."
However, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo attempted to smooth over any cracks at the team's Christmas lunch last weekend.
"I can understand his occasional moments of frustration, which we all share, but I am sure he is well aware what Ferrari represents and because of that, he will be even keener to give it his best shot."
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