Formula One news

Dennis reveals how he signed Alonso

Ron Dennis has revealed how he orchestrated the controversial signing of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. McLaren's capture of the Spaniard shocked the Formula One world at the end of 2005 but the way it happened is even more extraordinary. It turns out it resulted from a chance exchange of words at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2005.

"It was after the 2005 Brazilian GP, in which he clinched his first title. Our drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, had just finished first and second and Fernando was third," the McLaren Team Principal told the Independent.

"We came face to face for a minute and I think I said congratulations or something like that. He said, 'The thing about you is that you develop your cars'. To which I replied, 'You should be part of it'. When he said he would like to be, I was stunned. A week later we had a meeting in Japan and three weeks later the contract was signed," Dennis divulged.

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