Dennis feeling sorry for Raikkonen

Although Raikkonen is one of the main threats to McLaren's hopes of winning the world championship this year, Dennis has said he still wishes the Finn was having a better time.

Raikkonen has dropped 15 points behind joint championship leaders Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton after retiring from the Spanish Grand Prix and crashing in qualifying at Monaco.

"Drivers who have previously driven for our team are just that," Dennis was quoted as saying by the Press Association ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

"Without exception I would say everyone of them is still a friend, even Juan Pablo [Montoya] who sought a career in America and there was a difficult end to the relationship. But it was not one that was painful enough to damage the friendship.

"In the end Kimi is a friend, and I've seen him struggle with his problems. I see him as a friend and not a competitor, and I don't spend any time thinking about 'what ifs'.

"All the guys that have driven for McLaren have given their best, and we've tried to give them their opportunity. But the past is the past, the future is the future, and now is now.

"The reality is I don't spend any time thinking about it, other than seeing a friend in pain gives me no pleasure at all."