VARIOUS: MOTOR RACING - Alonso to leave McLaren

Spain's double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has left McLaren in a mutual split after an acrimonious and controversial season with the Mercedes-powered team. McLaren announced the widely expected decision in a statement on Friday (November 2). "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," they said in a statement. The 26-year-old driver, who joined McLaren from Renault at the end of the 2006 season, fell out with team management whom he accused of favouring British rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton. He had two years to run on his contract. The Spaniard's next destination remains uncertain, with Renault eager to secure his return while other teams could also change their plans now that one of the sport's hottest properties is openly available. "Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said in the McLaren statement. "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," he added. "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." Spanish media said the divorce was negotiated by Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad and a lawyer at the McLaren headquarters in Woking on Thursday and Friday morning. The El Mundo newspaper said Alonso, who finished the season in third place level on points with Hamilton and a point behind Ferrari's new champion Kimi Raikkonen, would not have to pay any compensation to McLaren. McLaren did not give any details of the terms of the separation but said it had been decided only after the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on October 21. "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," the statement said. Team boss Ron Dennis, who said in September that he had not been on speaking terms with Alonso since a row on the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 5, wished the Spaniard well. "He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out," he said. "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 a decision on who would replace Alonso alongside Hamilton, overall runner-up in a sensational rookie season, would be made in due course. Alonso won four races for McLaren, who were fined $100 million and stripped of all their constructors' points after a spying controversy with Ferrari. The Spaniard played a key role in that controversy, providing e-mail evidence to the governing body that proved damning for his team. Alonso factbox: Alonso is the only Spaniard to have won a Formula One race and is the country's first champion. Here are some key facts on Alonso: * AN EARLY START: -- Fernando Alonso was born in Oviedo, Spain on July 29, 1981. He began go-karting at the age of three and made his Formula One race debut with Minardi in Australia in 2001, failing to score any points that year. * ROAD TO FAME: -- He moved to Renault as a test driver in 2002 and replaced Briton Jenson Button at the team in 2003, with team boss Flavio Briatore describing him as a special talent. -- He became the youngest driver to start a grand prix on pole position (in Malaysia 2003) and the youngest race winner (Hungary 2003). -- Alonso won seven races in 2005 on his way to becoming the youngest Formula One champion at the age of 24. * CHAMPION: -- He won his second successive Formula One title in October 2006, with second place in the Brazilian Grand Prix. He won seven races in all in 2006. -- In Monza, in September 2006, he declared Formula One no longer a sport after being penalised by race stewards for allegedly impeding Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying. -- Alonso left Renault for McLaren after the 2006 season. The move was announced at the end of 2005 when he won his first title. * 2007: -- Alonso's relationship with McLaren suffered after he accused them of favouring rookie driver Lewis Hamilton. -- That estrangement was highlighted by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) deciding to appoint a special scrutineer to ensure equal treatment for the closing race in Brazil. -- Alonso and McLaren boss Ron Dennis have been barely on speaking terms since August, with the Spaniard also contributing evidence to a spy hearing that fined McLaren $100 million and stripped them of their constructors' points. -- Alonso finished in third spot in the standings, level on 109 points with team mate Hamilton.

ITN Source | November 3, 2007

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