Ron Dennis has downplayed Fernando Alonso's nagging comments over the radio in today's Japanese Grand Prix although the McLaren boss considers the antics were 'not constructive'.
On several occasions this afternoon, Alonso, who along with Jenson Button was racing once again way down the order in the underperforming McLaren-Honda, vented his frustration to his team, qualifying his performance as 'embarrassing' while labeling his Honda power unit a mere 'GP2 engine'.
"I think he vented his frustration," Dennis said to Sky Sports F1. "I don't think he needed to make the comments, it wasn't particularly constructive."
Ron Dennis took aim not only at the form used by his Spanish driver but also at the inopportune timing and venue.
" We are here in Japan, Suzuka, Honda's home track, we had the President of the Honda Motor Company, we had the head of R&D, chief executive of Honda motors - the three most senior people who are totally committed to winning a world championship and their curve is much stepper than they anticipated, but their aspirations and commitment has not diminished."
" We are strong partners, we will take the pain as a learning curve, it is the only way to win a world championship. If you are not with a number one engine you will not win a world championship."
Dennis conceded Alonso's attitude was an embarrassment, but he did not wish to dwell much further on something he also believes is being blown out of proportion.
"I think that is an embarrassment, but I don't want to make any more of it. The drivers get relatively minimal interface with the management of Honda. They get interface with the technical people. Maybe this is to make the message is heard by everybody. I do not condone it, but I am not going to criticise our drivers. I will sort it behind closed doors."
When asked to draw a parallel with the problematic relationship McLaren endured in the past with Alonso when he raced for the Woking outfit in 2007, Dennis believed the comparison was unjustified.
"Today, Fernando is a completely different person. He's chilled and relaxed but he is a racing driver who needs to have the adrenaline, the passion and everything... He vents his frustration in different ways. I wouldn't say it's constructive but at the end of the day, I'm not going to get too angry about it."
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AS IT HAPPENED: Japanese Grand Prix
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