The partnership ends: Fernando Alonso leaves Ron Dennis and his Silver team. Juan Pablo Montoya also had a premature end to his McLaren career just after one year, leaving F1 altogether. Inside McLaren: Has the compatibility between McLaren and the Latin gone with the wind after Senna?
The McLaren Mercedes team have confirmed Fernando Alonso will leave the team after the two sides agreed to end the Spaniard’s three-year contract early.
"Following a meeting between Fernando Alonso and McLaren, it was agreed that it would be in the best interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end," said the team in a statement.
"The mutual parting of ways has not been discussed until now, since it was felt that any such discussion could have seriously disrupted the team’s and Fernando’s 2007 Formula One World Championship challenge.
"Both parties believe that this was the right decision."
Alonso, who had a torrid relationship with McLaren boss Ron Dennis during the season, was sorry things did not work out between him and the team.
The Spaniard, however, said McLaren were still a great outfit.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," said the Spaniard.
"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.
"I know there have been suggestions of favouritism 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.
"Today’s decision allows all of us to focus on 2008, and I wish the team, Vodafone, Banco Santander, Mutua Madrilena and all the other team Partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future."
Dennis praised Alonso and said the decision to part company was the right one.
"Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren’s Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrilena and the team’s title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future.
"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."
McLaren said they will announce who will partner Lewis Hamilton next year in due course.
Evenstar ~ I didn’t think this would really happen, but good riddance to the Furball. I say this because despite still being a McLaren fan, I did not like how Alonso automatically assumed superiority over Hamilton and with the team. I don’t agree that McLaren ever favoured anyone when it came down to the racing (speaking between Alonso and Hamilton, and neither with their ex-British drivers such as David Coulthard and Martin Brundell). The prroblem with Alonso was that he made it seem like it was do with the the racing, when it wasn’t. It just became really petty and now we have the divorce. I do agree, though, that McLaren seem to over-act their clear stated equality policy when they needn’t be so firm and insistant, as it has backfired big time over the recent years as we saw with Montoya. At China this year, McLaren ended up favouring Lewis because Alonso was being a baby, to be frank.
It’s just a complete coincidence that Lewis is British. Ron didn’t invest in him because he thought he would be the first ever ‘Black’ rookie in F1. Talent and impression came and will always come first, and Ron will use that as usual to pick the team’s new ’employee’. It’s not just about who will be Lewis’ teammate, McLaren will have realised that the new driver will have to be close to perfect for everyone. Everything was increasingly tensed up because of the media, though. It is a shame because Hamilton being British seemed to be the reason why Alonso was being unfairly treated. That’s how the media
portrayed it and it just got blown out of proportion. Ron Dennis seemed to
think so, saying the internet, for example, has been the bane of our
lives. It’s true! And I hope only the fans in both Spain and the UK realise how ridiculous it is. The competition in the sport has nothing to do whatsoever with your country. Hamilton did a better job than Alonso, end of discussion! But that doesn’t mean Hamilton is perfect as the British media would suggest. Lewis has lost a 17 point lead in the championship in two races to Kimi. He has and will make more mistakes, regardless of who is his teammate.
Now, we fans deserve some early fun with this news, as we head into silly season! I think Nico Rosberg (at Williams) has come a long way during his two years in F1, and would totally deserve a top drive alongside Hamilton. Renault’s Heikki Kovalained has a little further to go and he should stay at Renault for one or two years to earn recognition, as the team recently stated they would pick a No.1 next season. However, if either of them are offered the Silver seat, I don’t think they would refuse!
Another widely rumoured option is Adrian Sutil, who debuted this year at Spyker. The young lad would be a big risk and I don’t think he’s the safest option. Quite similar to Kimi, when he joined McLaren straight after Sauber in 2002. But Robert Kubica is the only guy out there that has impressed me as Kimi did, but I want him to stay at BMW and be successful there. Frank Williams and Ron Dennis can make an agreement, as good old friends, and do a swap with Rosberg and Alonso. Alonso is free to go wherever he wants, but Williams seem the best option, over say Toyota. And maybe Mercedes will have a say and try to get their compatriot in Rosberg to join forces, which seems pretty good for all involved!
FUCK ISRAEL 