Formula One news

McLaren boss - Montoya could return

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis says Juan Pablo Montoya could still race or test for his team in Formula One before the end of the current season. Despite the fact the team has released him from his immediate racing duties, Dennis insists Montoya is still under contract.

"Juan Pablo is fully contracted through to the end of the year, and if we so choose, he will test and race again, so that is at our option, nobody else's," Dennis said. "There is plenty in the press that differs with that fact."

Dennis went on to talk about the circumstances that led to Montoya's decision to quit F1 for NASCAR.

"A few races ago, we had a conversation that was based on his desire to continue with McLaren, his desire to stay in Formula One and we came to the clear understanding that it was immaterial whether his objective was to stay in Formula One and whether the team would keep him, or whether he would go to another team," Dennis said. "The objective, the best way to achieve that was to have the best results over the latter part of the season and that's the way we move forward and I felt that if he was focused on having the best end of season, then a) to use my exact words, it would be easier for me to take a decision in the team, or b) that it would be easier and better for him… he would get better offer, so the common objective was 'let's get the best out of the balance of the season'." 

"Obviously, that objective was somewhat changed when he decided that in 2007 he would race in NASCAR, so then our objectives became different, I think," Dennis went on. "The appropriate course of action for the team was to let the whole thing cool off and let him sit and think about the circumstances that surrounded his involvement in the team until we had a very common objective for the remaining races."

The chances of Montoya racing again for McLaren are incredibly unlikely as although he is under contract, it makes little sense putting a demotivated driver into the line of fire.

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