Formula One news

Ecclestone hits out at McLaren's Alonso deal

Bernie Ecclestone hit out at McLaren team Principal Ron Dennis on the way he handed Alonso's signing for the 2007-season. The F1 boss thinks Dennis could have handed the situation on a better manner.

"It reminds me of when I ran the Brabham F1 team. In the summer of 1977 I contacted Niki Lauda at the Italian Grand Prix and offered him a drive for the season after," Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Lauda excepted my offer but I told him: 'Niki, I do not want any problems with Enzo Ferrari. You tell him how things have gone and then we will make the announcement.' And so Lauda did." 

"This time it was Alonso dealing with Ron Dennis and leave Briatore out of it. I know how things have gone, but I cannot reveal the details. On top of that Ron Dennis is Briatore's worst enemy, he spited him by exposing things publicly in order to make it difficult for him." 

"It wasn't a nice move, even though stealing each others drivers is normal among the teams. Dennis and Briatore could have written a press release together and they would have both looked much more professional. Dennis's move was not very intelligent."

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