McLaren nearly got Schuey

That is the shock confession of McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who has admitted that team representatives spoke with Schumacher in Monte Carlo several years ago about a possible partnership.

When asked by journalists on Friday about whether he would have liked to have seen Schumacher drive one of his cars, Dennis said: "We had the opportunity but we did not take it. Five years ago we met at Monte Carlo and there were discussions.

"The problem is that when you say to someone, 'we want you to drive for us', the team has to be in a position to deliver on that commitment. The team was not in the position to do that at the time.

"We both went away and thought about it and we decided collectively not to make Michael an offer. So it wasn't a money thing."