20/09/2013
NEWS STORY
Martin Whitmarsh causes a media storm when he is asked about the possibility of Fernando Alonso returning to McLaren.
With Kimi Raikkonen now confirmed at Ferrari there remains speculation as to whether Alonso will remain on board - as he is contracted to do - or seek another team where he might be given total superiority.
Never mind the fact that there are no prized seats out there, and even less money, or the fact that everything remains in limbo as we wait to find who has produced the best engine for the new formula.
Once Whitmarsh mentioned the name Alonso this morning, in an interview with Sky Sports F1, the media went into overdrive.
The fact is Whitmarsh admitted that any team in the pitlane would welcome the Spaniard. He then, curiously, added that whilst he expects his 2014 line-up to remain the same, a fact confirmed by both drivers on Thursday, the team would be "open to anything".
Whether it was the Englishman having a little fun at the expense of Ferrari or the media is not clear, however, as the cars took to the track for FP1, the headlines began appearing.
At the end of the session, again to talking to Sky Sports F1, Whitmarsh admitted that McLaren has not approached Alonso or been approached by the Spaniard's management. Indeed, there has been no contact.
He also admitted that the team is still recovering from its last encounter with the Spaniard, an encounter that was to end in Spygate which in turn led to a $100m fine and exclusion from the 2007 season standings.
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