Formula One news

Alonso 'no show' at press conference

Fernando Alonso failed to show at Thursday's routine press conference in Budapest after McLaren asked if he could skip it. The Woking-based team got special permission from the FIA for the Spaniard to be excused from facing the press, although he was scheduled to do so.

In light of the espionage outcome and the fallout in the press, it seems logical that the McLaren team would prefer its title contender to avoid being grilled by the press and focus on the job in hand.

On the other hand Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen says that he was only too happy to attend the conference: "I don't know what the reason is for this, maybe it is something else, so… I was happy to come here. I need to do the same thing either here or out there in the paddock, so for me it doesn't matter."

The Finn added he would prefer it if the matter was settled so that the championship could be decided on the track.

He said: "I think whatever happens in the coming weeks or months in the championship for sure for everybody it would be nicer to decide it on the circuit."

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