The stormy relationship between Fernando Alonso and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team ended today with the two parties mutually agreeing to part ways after one season, according to the team’s official Web site.
Alonso, 26, was under contract with McLaren through the 2008 season, but a tumultuous 2007, which included a feud with rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton, hastened his departure.
Hamilton led the point standings for much of the year, but lost the championship by a single point to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen after Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix.
For Alonso, who became F-1’s youngest world champion while driving for Renault in 2005 and then became the youngest double world champion in 2006. After the 2005 season, Alonso announced he had signed to drive with McLaren, the team of his boyhood hero, Ayrton Senna, beginning this year.
“Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out,” Alonso said. “I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.”
McLaren Mercedes Director Ron Dennis said the decision to “mutually part” was discussed for the first time on Friday and then quickly made.
“Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren’s Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña and the team’s title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future,” said Dennis. “He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward. We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best, and we will now continue to focus on our 2008 World Championship challenge.”
Alonso’s McLaren debut came at the same time as Hamilton’s, the young Brit who had been groomed for the seat by the team, and allegations of favoritism toward Hamilton quickly erupted.
Alonso backpedaled from those accusations as he left on Friday.
“I know there have been suggestions of favoritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win,” Alonso said. “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.”
It has been speculated that Alonso would return to Renault in 2008. McLaren said it will make announcements on its future lineup “in due course.”