Dennis says Alonso will feel at home

Alonso will not be able to test for the Woking-based team until the start of next year, as he remains under contract to Renault until December 31.

But although that hands Hamilton an extra few weeks to build up rapport with McLaren personnel, team boss Ron Dennis insists that his new Spanish driver will feel just as much a part of the family as his new teammate when he finally starts work for them.

"We have met and talked about how we should tackle the issue of motor racing and the relationships with people here at McLaren and Mercedes," said Dennis about Alonso's future arrival.

"He (Alonso) is in his own right a very special guy. He does not seek fame and he is just passionate about driving racing cars. He is even more passionate about winning in racing cars.

"So our relationship is based not just on that desire to win, but on how we win. We have spoken to him endlessly about it and I feel comfortable that the relationship at this stage is well advanced and he is already part of the family. It is a family feel.

"I know we are so often criticised as being grey and uncaring, but I don't think that view has been substantiated by people inside our organisation. We keep ourselves to ourselves and get on with the job.

"I don't have any concerns and I don't think Fernando has any concerns about coming into a situation where his nest is not as feathered as Lewis. He is a twice world champion, he has the credit that comes with it, and I don't think he has any concerns about Lewis sharing a nine-year relationship with the team."

Dennis thinks that Alonso's biggest concern about Hamilton will be whether the young Briton will be able to push the team enough to move it forward.

"Is Lewis going to be supportive of the team efforts and supportive of getting the best out of our racing cars? Probably," added Dennis.

"I would say that Fernando's concern, if anything, is if he (Hamilton) is going to pull his weight. Is he going to do a competent job? The: 'I cannot always get it right with my decisions and my teammate should be there for those rare occurrences when I need support.' scenarios."

Alonso courted controversy at the Japanese Grand Prix this year when he claimed that he had felt 'alone' in some races this year because he was not getting enough support from his Renault team or teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.