Formula One news

Dennis: Driver decision was not emotional

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has admitted it has not been an emotional decision to pick rookie Lewis Hamilton as Fernando Alonso's team-mate for 2007.

Dennis believes the team gave De la Rosa a great opportunity when the Spaniard got the chance to replace Juan Pablo Montoya. Dennis explained about his decision to hire the services of Lewis Hamilton instead of De la Rosa: "We believe it is important that our drivers follow a clear line. We gave Pedro a great opportunity in 2006 and now we offer such an opportunity to Hamilton. But this was never an emotional decision, it was based on the abilities of the driver."

Hamilton was negotiating with the Spyker F1 team but later the Briton was announced as Alonso's new team-mate at McLaren. Ron Dennis explained: "In the end we didn't want him to work with different equipment as we have invested a lot in him. We don't want other people in F1 to give him a difference advice."

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