Fernando Alonso has been informed by Ron Dennis, the McLaren Mercedes team principal, that he can leave at the end of this season, well-placed sources have told The Times.
The Formula One rumour mill is in full flow over the future of Alonso after his role in the vain attempt to prevent Lewis Hamilton, his teammate, from taking pole position during qualifying for last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The source said last night: “My understanding is that he’s been told he can go because they’re so fed up with him. Ron is just very p***ed off with both of them [Alonso and Hamilton].”
Alonso, who is contracted to the Woking-based team until the end of 2009 on a salary of about $20 million (£10 million) a year, has indicated in remarks to the Spanish media that his future at McLaren is in doubt, as have key advisers in his entourage.
Even before the row over the attempt to delay Hamilton, sources close to the Spanish driver were making it clear that he was unhappy at the team and was dismayed at what he regards as McLaren reneging on their initial deal to make him the lead driver.
The prospect of Alonso leaving McLaren has encouraged speculation in the paddock about where the double and defending world champion may go. Among the possibilities are a move to Ferrari, at the expense of Felipe Massa, a return to Renault, where he would probably replace Giancarlo Fisichella, his former teammate, or a switch to BMW Sauber or even Toyota.
Dennis, who is about to start a summer break, acknowledged in Budapest on Sunday that Alonso’s future was the subject of serious discussion in rival teams. “There is an inevitability that these things are rumoured and discussed,” he said at the Hungaroring.
But the embattled McLaren principal was, at that stage, hoping that Alonso would fulfil his contract. “We have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future,” Dennis said. “We will respect our part of the bargain - we hope that the drivers respect theirs, because that’s what a contract is about.”
The long-held McLaren tradition of allowing their two drivers to fight it out for supremacy on the track - which Alonso dislikes - is not going to change, Dennis added. “We will continue to function as a grand prix team with specific values and if anybody does not want to be part of those values - irrespective of where they sit in the organisation - ultimately they will have a choice,” he said. “But we will not deviate away from our values.”
McLaren have yet to decide whether to pursue their appeal against the decision by the stewards to withdraw constructors’ points in Hungary as part of the punishment handed to the team over the infamous orchestrated pitstop during qualifying.
There were signs, however, that with an appearance before the FIA Court of Appeal over the Ferrari/ McLaren spying scandal on their plate – that hearing is expected to be held in Paris at the end of this month – the team may decide to drop their appeal over the ruling in Hungary.
In Spain, the penalty handed to Alonso over the affair that demoted him from pole position to sixth on the grid has been met with outrage by the popular Asturian driver’s fans. Their cause has been taken up by the RFEA, the Spanish motorsport federation, which said it “faithfully believes” Alonso’s explanation for why he delayed leaving his pit box.
“We want to publicly show our support and absolute trust in Fernando Alonso, who has shown his professionalism and honesty during his successful sporting career,” the organisation said.
