A Renault spokesman has dismissed as ‘absolute nonsense’ reports that Fernando Alonso was this week banned from driving at the final team test of the 2006 grand prix season.
It is reported in Germany that Enstone-based Renault sidelined the championship leading Spaniard because of his looming switch to McLaren, and the scheduled testing of sensitive technical developments.
Alonso, 25, was scheduled to run last week at Jerez, but he sat out that test after bruising his knee in an unspecified practice incident at the Monza race.
The spokesman, who accused the German publication of fabricating the story, said: ”Fernando has not been ‘banned’ from doing anything at all.
”Indeed, he is flying off to Japan at the moment to complete a major sponsor operation for the team this weekend.”
It should also be noted that Kimi Raikkonen, set to move from McLaren to Ferrari at the end of the year, is also not testing this week.
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
