Alonso is free — Mutual agreement reached (official)
Posted: 02 Nov 2007, 15:34
Alonso is free
Mutual agreement reached
The team have issued a confirmation statement explaining that both parties have ‘agreed to move on’, adding that the arrangement had not been discussed before now as “it was felt that any such discussion could have seriously disrupted the team’s and Fernando’s 2007 Formula 1 World Championship challenge.”
Both parties, the announcement went on to say, felt that this was the right decision.
Team principal Ron Dennis had this to say:
“Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren’s Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña 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.”
The statement also carried the following message from Alonso:
“Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out. 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 Madrileña and all the other team Partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future.”
There had been a further two years to run on Alonso’s contract, but it has been generally accepted for some time that the ex-champion would be looking to drive elsewhere in 2008. It is heavily rumoured, although far from confirmed, that the Spaniard will be joining Ferrari in 2009, although recent paddock gossip has also linked Alonso to his former team Renault, to Williams and to Red Bull racing.
The official announcement ended by saying that Mclaren would announce ‘any additions to its existing driver line-up in due course’.
http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/a ... /view.html
Mutual agreement reached
The team have issued a confirmation statement explaining that both parties have ‘agreed to move on’, adding that the arrangement had not been discussed before now as “it was felt that any such discussion could have seriously disrupted the team’s and Fernando’s 2007 Formula 1 World Championship challenge.”
Both parties, the announcement went on to say, felt that this was the right decision.
Team principal Ron Dennis had this to say:
“Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren’s Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña 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.”
The statement also carried the following message from Alonso:
“Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out. 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 Madrileña and all the other team Partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future.”
There had been a further two years to run on Alonso’s contract, but it has been generally accepted for some time that the ex-champion would be looking to drive elsewhere in 2008. It is heavily rumoured, although far from confirmed, that the Spaniard will be joining Ferrari in 2009, although recent paddock gossip has also linked Alonso to his former team Renault, to Williams and to Red Bull racing.
The official announcement ended by saying that Mclaren would announce ‘any additions to its existing driver line-up in due course’.
http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/a ... /view.html
)but they don't exactly seem to be getting very far when it comes to making a decent F1 car.
