McLaren boss Zak Brown insists there are no tensions with Fernando Alonso despite the team being locked in a state of depression this season.
Amid the persistent McLaren-Honda crisis, keeping everyone's motivation in check has been a huge task for Brown, who took command at McLaren late last year after the ousting of Ron Dennis.
The team is doing its best to keep its star driver on board for next season, although that prospect now seems only a remote possibility.
Brown insists however that McLaren's poor state of affairs has not led to tension with the two-time world champion.
"I think Fernando loves the atmosphere here at McLaren and I don't think there's another team that he would prefer to drive for more than us," Brown Spain's AS newspaper.
"But he wants to compete for the top positions and I understand that. There is zero tension between Fernando and McLaren.
"The relationship has never been healthier. He is frustrated but we are together in our frustration."
While everyone at Woking is hoping that Alonso will stay on, Brown admits it will be difficult.
"We have been clear that we want him to stay and he was very clear when he said he wants to stay," he said.
"But we need a better race car, and that is where all of our attention is."
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