Moto: Dennis happy with Alonso

May 30 2007 Western Mail

McLAREN boss Ron Dennis has categorically dismissed suggestions of a brittle relationship with Fernando Alonso – although concedes the reigning world champion is a worrier.

Alonso looked a happy and relieved man after securing his second win for McLaren since joining them this season, and 17th of his career, by taking the chequered flag at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

However, the result raised the question McLaren are favouring the Spaniard ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was told “to ease off” to ensure they finished one-two.

Dennis insisted nothing more than team strategy was deployed as he did not want his two drivers racing one another, and potentially resulting in one, or both, failing to finish the race.

The FIA, though, have launched an investigation into the matter as there is the feeling team orders, which are banned, came into play.

However, if team strategy is a way of massaging Alonso’s ego – and if the FIA clear McLaren of any wrongdoing – then it paid handsome dividends around the streets of Monte Carlo.

Prior to the race there had been suggestions Alonso was unhappy at the way Hamilton appeared to have become ‘the chosen one’ given his history with McLaren before his promotion to Formula One.

The 22-year-old pretender has this year overshadowed the reigning double world champion, and that has seemingly not been to Alonso’s liking.

If there are cracks in the alliance between Alonso and Dennis, then the latter did a very good job in papering over them as he said, “We have a great relationship with Fernando.

“He is still going up a curve of getting to know people, to trust people and feel comfortable with everybody.

“That is not something Lewis has had to do. He’s had the complete experience of working with us for several years.

“But Fernando is a wonderful chap. He’s quiet, thoughtful, worries endlessly about everything, but just loves being in a racing car.

“I’m quite sure if you filmed him going round a race track, you would find he smiles more in the car than out of it – he loves going motor racing.

“We are a team that loves to have competitive, committed, focused drivers – and that’s what we have right now.

“Clearly some people are trying to find an imperfection in something that is pretty perfect.”