Speaking to reporters ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren boss Ron Dennis said that he expected his team to make a decision on its 2007 driver line-up in the next few weeks.

"We have a very firm plan now, we know exactly what we are doing as a team, said the Englishman. "We will start to implement the plan, which provides for all contingencies.

"We think now we are in a phase as a team that we are going to start to take decisions and they will unfold over the next two to three weeks," he added.

Following the shock announcement in December 2005 that Fernando Alonso was to join the Woking outfit in 2007, there has been constant speculation as to who will partner the Spaniard.

Most F1 insiders feel that Kimi Raikkonen will remain with the team, though others claim that the Spaniard's imminent arrival, not to mention the way the deal was done, has put the Finn's nose out of joint. consequently, Raikkonen has been linked with both Ferrari and, more recently, Renault.

It is unlikely that Dennis will want to keep Juan Pablo Montoya, the Colombian having enjoyed a 'hit and miss' career with the Woking outfit.

To add to the speculation, Dennis launched into a typical bout of 'Ronspeak': "We are a Grand Prix team," he said. "Norbert and I are people who have to make recommendations to the people who support the programme.

"Sometimes you are following the necessity to be courteous to sponsors. However, there are other shareholders or board members and all of these have to be supportive of your intentions or plans and we've made a firm plan on how we will move forward."