19/09/2007
NEWS STORY
In case anyone was in any doubt as to how badly Fernando Alonso's relationship with his boss, Ron Dennis, has soured, the transcript of last week's World Motor Sport Council make interesting reading.
Dennis describes his relationship with the Spaniard as cold, revealing that at the time of the hearing the two men were not on speaking terms and that the Spaniard, though asked, refused to attend last Thursday's hearing in Paris.
"The relationship between Fernando and myself is extremely cold," said Dennis. "That is an understatement. In Fernando's mind, there is the firm belief that our policy, whereby each driver receives equal treatment, doe not properly reflect his status as World Champion. He bases this assertion on the fact that his experience and knowledge and what came to him from his former team is such that he should receive an advantage."
The Englishman, having revealed that the two are "not on speaking terms", and haven't been since the Hungaroring, gave his version of what happened on the morning of the race.
"He was extremely upset with what had taken place the previous day, but nowhere nearly as upset as I was. He said things that he subsequently and fully retracted. Within the passage of material, he made a specific reference to e-mails from a McLaren engineer. When he made this statement, I said, "Stop". I went out, brought Mr Whitmarsh him in, and Fernando said everything again, in front of his manager. When he had finished, I turned to Martin Whitmarsh, asking what we should do with this particular part of the conversation. Martin said we should find Max. After Martin and Fernando left, that is exactly what he did. I recounted the entire conversation to Max.
"I was upset and angry, but mainly upset. Max calmed me down. He said that I should do nothing. I started to calm down. Then, prior to the race, Fernando's manager came and said that he had lost his temper and completely retracted everything he said. When I phoned Max, Max was understanding and said things to me that are irrelevant here, though I would be more than comfortable sharing them. He was completely understanding and said that, on the basis of what I told him, if he felt there was any real validity in what Fernando had said, he would contact me prior to taking any action.
"I, however, on the basis that this was an engineering matter, I asked Martin whether he thought something was amiss in that area. He told me, "We have been too thorough in talking to the engineers; he cannot have been telling the truth." We subsequently had a reasonable Grand Prix. Fernando came to me. He had come in 3rd. He apologised for the outburst and I put it down to the heat of the moment, in which he was angry. That is how I took it. Other than following up with Martin, the matter ended there, until 26 days later, when the drivers received a letter. What took place between those times, I do not know. I do not know what circumstances brought that into the public domain."
Referring to Alonso's refusal to attend the meeting, Dennis said: "Mr Alonso is not here because he does not want to be here. He does not speak to anyone much. He is a remarkable recluse for a driver. He is not here by choice. Moreover, he said he had other things to do by previous arrangement. I cannot force him to come. We asked him to come."