- McLaren
McLaren always targets star drivers - Dennis
Ron Dennis has made clear that McLaren will make efforts to sign "the best drivers available" after rumours of approaches to Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso have surfaced again this week.
McLaren is piecing together a three-five year plan for its driver line-up, meaning the current pairing of Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen will have to wait on their futures. Vettel is out of contract at the end of next year at Red Bull and Alonso's current Ferrari deal will expire at the end of 2016. Both drivers are believed to be on McLaren's hit list as it prepares for the arrival of factory Honda engines next year, but the team may have to wait for them to become available.
Dennis insists he has no problems with his current line-up, but said that would not stop the team exploring all its options.
"I'm satisfied with both Jenson and Kevin," he told Formula One's official website . "Nonetheless, despite that, I want them to give their best - and, at the same time, be responsible enough to appreciate that McLaren will always make efforts to hire the best drivers available. If such opportunities arise, we'll appraise them; we always have and we always will. All great Formula One teams are the same in that regard. But we're not in a position to do that at the moment."
Although Dennis' approach may seem rather cut-throat in relation to his current drivers, he stressed that it is the same way McLaren has always approached its driver line-up.
"We'll always look to employ the best drivers available - but they have to be available, don't they? Having said that, for the avoidance of doubt, Jenson and Kevin represent an excellent blend of capable experience and youthful promise, and we're very happy with both of them. The fact that we're keeping an eye on what a few other drivers are up to in no way contradicts that, because, as I say, if opportunities arise, we'll appraise them - we always have and we always will."
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