Posted at 7:05 a.m., Friday, November 2, 2007
Autos: Two-time F1 champ Alonso leaves McLaren
Associated Press
WOKING, England — Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso parted ways with McLaren on Friday after one disappointing season in which the Spaniard finished third in the drivers' championship standings.Alonso joined McLaren this year after winning the title two years in a row with Renault. He clashed with management and teammate Lewis Hamilton throughout the season, and finished behind champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Hamilton.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said in a statement.
Alonso, who still has a year left on his contract, reached an agreement that allows the driver to leave without penalty.
"(We) want to wish Fernando all the best for the future," McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said. "He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of (our team) and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward."
