SHANGHAI, China — Fernando Alonso declines to talk about 2008, but given the way he slammed Ron Dennis, it’s doubtful he will be back at McLaren.
“It’s not the time to speak about next year,” Alonso said in China. “I try to win these two races, and when the championship finishes we will see.”
But Alonso believes he is not welcome at McLaren.
“From what they’ve said and done it doesn’t look as though they are very keen, and that they’ve got enough with one of the two drivers that are here, I’ve no problem with that,” he said. “There are another 10 or so teams that are interested in me.”
Flavio Briatore wants the disillusioned McLaren driver to come back to Renault.
“I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren, we would be pleased to have him back,” the Gazzetta dello Sport quotes Briatore saying. “It would be stupid to deny that.”
Dennis is disappointed in Alonso’s reticence to say that he and Lewis Hamilton are getting equal treatment.
Asked if he thought he has been treated in a fair way by the team or if maybe they have favored Hamilton by making subtle changes like tire pressures or wing settings, Alonso replied: “Difficult question...I will not answer.”
Dennis said that the drivers’ contracts have numerous reciprocal equality clauses.
“We never will, never have and certainly are not favoring either driver at the moment,” he said. “This is a straight fight, and I’m obviously disappointed that someone who really has all the knowledge should not be more direct and open with the response which is: equality is how we run our team.”
Alonso fired back.
“It’s better to be silent than to lie, that’s for sure,” he said. “And that’s something he should do more often, and I think the team would do better. Many of the scandals McLaren has been involved in off the track this year have been created by his things.
“Each one has his own philosophy, he has his, and we all understand it. I have spoken a lot with (David) Coulthard, with (Juan Pablo) Montoya, with Kimi (Raikkonen), and they have all left the team and found a lot of happiness. There must be a reason.”
McLaren is much different than Alonso anticipated.
Asked by NSSN how much he is looking forward to the Monday after the final race of the season, Alonso smiled widely and replied: “A lot! I am looking forward, no doubts.”