McLaren chief Ron Dennis has pleaded with the Spanish press to be more respectful of double world champion Fernando Alonso’s private life.
Addressing Spanish journalists at the team’s headquarters in Woking, Dennis suggested that Alonso – who is switching camps following five years with Renault – was upset when it was incorrectly reported that he got married last week.
“He loves his country but wants them to respect him as well,” the newspaper ‘As Diario’ quoted Dennis as saying.
“Fernando is someone who wants to separate his personal life from his professional life, and we need to respect that.
“The Spanish press is lucky to have a national hero, so as his new boss I ask you to help him to guard his private life. If you want him to win another world championship then he needs some room to breathe.”
Dennis also rejected media claims from Alonso’s native country that suggested the 25-year-old would be content to retire after matching Ayrton Senna’s tally of three drivers’ titles.
59-year-old Dennis said: “I don’t think the word retirement is in his vocabulary yet, but I can also assure you that Fernando is going to try to win the next three championships with us.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
