Fernando Alonso split with the McLaren-Mercedes
Fernando Alonso has agreed to split with the McLaren-Mercedes team by mutual consent. The 26-year-old Spaniard has agreed terms to terminate his agreement with the Woking team after just one season of his three-year contract.
“Today’s decision allows all of us to focus on 2008, and I wish the team, Vodafone, Banco Santander, Mutua Madrileña and all the other team partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future.” His relationship with team boss Ron Dennis is believed to have broken down after the Spaniard publicly criticised McLaren for not providing him with the support he felt he deserved as a double world champion. This was not helped by the unexpected pace of his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who settled into the team faster and more successfully than Alonso did. The situation became irretrievable when the Spaniard threatened to reveal evidence of the team’s involvement in the ‘Spygate’ scandal during a heated row in Hungary. In its statement announcing Alonso’s departure, McLaren admitted the relationship had not evolved in the way it had hoped and that both parties had agreed it was better to part ways. “Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes want to wish Fernando all the best for the future,” read the statement. Alonso is free to join another team in 2008, and his agent said neither party would pay a financial penalty. Alonso’s destination remains undisclosed, though he has been linked with a move to Red Bull Racing, a return to Renault and has received big money offers from Toyota and Honda. Renault’s Heikki Kovalainen and Williams’ Nico Rosberg are both believed to be in the frame to replace Alonso alongside Hamilton.