Dennis shuts down to maintain equality

Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are locked in a tight fight for the world championship, and with intense media scrutiny on their relationship, Dennis has been extra cautious in making sure he does not appear to favour one driver over another.

But the Briton is finding it hard to work out how best to behave and says this is even manifesting itself in him not fully enjoying some victories this year.

"One of the problems that we have in the team at the moment is that we're all trying to behave correctly, and do the right thing, and try to balance how we respond to the success and failure of the team as a whole and of the specific drivers," said Dennis.

"Probably the person who's trying the hardest is me, I have to say. I got on to the podium in Monte Carlo and I was absolutely delighted with the outcome of the race. Yet I was heavily criticised by my family for keeping such a straight face and not looking happy at all, when nothing was further from the truth."

As a result, the McLaren team principal believes that enjoying his drivers' results is a luxury that he can only afford away from the track.

"I am phenomenally fond of both drivers," Dennis insisted. "I have huge respect for Fernando's achievements and clearly I have respect for what Lewis has achieved this season and in the rest of his career.

"I will not indulge myself in emotion that is counter-productive to the interests of the team. I close down, come to the race, and try to be absolutely professional. The only time I find myself thinking about those issues are away from the circuit."

Dennis's bid to try and maintain fairness within the team, and promote an image of harmony, has led to a strained relationship with the media who have been revelling in the competitiveness between McLaren's drivers on and off the track.

That has led to further complications for the team. Alonso in France questioned comments from McLaren's team management that his swerve towards the pits at Indy was a sign of 'frustration', and then the Spaniard also rubbished claims made by Dennis in Indianapolis that his drivers had agreed a pact of silence when talking about each other to the press.

When asked about the situation, Alonso said: "It is not true. I don't know [why Dennis would say it]."

Dennis has moved to clarify that situation. He claims that he never meant the pair would not talk about each other.

"[Fernando's comments] conflicted with what I said in Indianapolis," Dennis said. "But in truth, what Fernando said was completely accurate, what I said was completely accurate, and neither of us wanted to mislead you - or, in fact, had a differing opinion.

"But the detail of what lies behind their conversations related to when one driver read something in a newspaper that was attributable to the other driver.

"And instead of reacting without dialogue between the two drivers, that really is what that matter was about. They agreed that before reacting, they would discuss it. They never said that they wouldn't talk about each other; they have a very positive relationship."

The McLaren boss said that a competitive spark between two drivers who were both fighting for the championship was natural, irrespective of how well they may get along off the track.

"Of course they both want to win, no question," he said. "And of course they can't always win, and circumstances in qualifying make it difficult for Fernando this weekend.

"But there is a long way to go. We are halfway through the world championship, and Fernando is a double world champion capable of winning many races in the balance of the season.

"In respect of that point, we've been really trying to stabilise a bit of instability that comes primarily from things that they had reputedly said about each other."