Formula One news

Haug rejects claims of driver conflict

Norbert Haug has downplayed speculation that the McLaren team is suffering from friction between the team's two drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard is said to feel isolated within the camp after Hamilton's dream start and supposed conflict has been hyped on the back pages of national newspapers in Britain. However, the vice president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport believes that the level of competition between the two is perfectly healthy and that the results on the track should speak for themselves.

Haug said: "In the past we were very often criticised that we tried to steer the drivers, to tell them what to tell the outside world and I think now we have the situation where they both speak their minds. But I have to tell you it is not a problem at all inside the team, I think it is very, very balanced and I cannot see any of these frictions.

"Of course you have positive competition between the drivers and between the teams on the right and the left-hand side of the garage. You share the data, after practice is over obviously, and I think that is a good approach. In a way it is like climbing a ladder, you go step by step and I think the atmosphere is good. I think it is a positive surrounding and I think Ron [Dennis] the team principle is strong enough to influence the whole situation. And of course Martin [Whitmarsh] and I have a positive influence on the guys.

"But it is not like it is described on the outside. I understand people are looking for controversial stories, that's what it is about. But inside the team it's different and if you look at our track record in the last couple of races I honestly do not think that with bad feelings inside the team you could achieve that. So I think we must have very positive and good feelings and I think that is what we have achieved."

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