Norbert Haug has refused to deny suggestions that Fernando Alonso was actually fired and threatened with legal action by McLaren-Mercedes.
In its media announcement last Friday, the Woking based outfit described the Spaniard’s departure after an acrimonious single season as a “mutual parting of ways”.
But despite widespread reports this year that Alonso was unhappy at McLaren, it is rumoured that the 26-year-old’s 2008 contract was simply terminated by the team due to breaches by Alonso this year.
It has also been suggested that he has been warned by McLaren officials that he risks legal action should he continue to malign Ron Dennis’ team in subsequent musings to the press.
Haug, who is Mercedes’ competition chief, would not confirm the reports at the weekend at the ‘Stars and Cars’ event in Stuttgart.
But he said: “I will not say whether or not everything that occurred in the past was right or not.”
Haug, 54, also revealed that Alonso has agreed to conform with a separation agreement.
