You're wrong Dennis. The McLata Mercedes is good because of Fernando and the Ferrari's papers. He's the one.
Stop making his life miserable and give Lewis a Minardi.

ColinG, liverpool,

"in Hamilton and Alonso he has drivers of similar ability." The difference between them is that Alonso does the configuration of the car and then Hamilton simply copy it. You will see next year what McLaren will do without Alonso. See the case of Renault.

Carlos, Dublin,

Do you think this is a man that does not talk with his team? http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=E1GZjUEXZYo

Marta, Valladolid, Spain

Ron Dennis is a principled man of Great integrity and one who is to be emulated. Formula One has been so much better because of people like him. The Almighty Bless You Ron!

Elias, Stevenage, United Kingdom

Ron has his problems with two very talented, competitive drivers and I for one wish a decent, principled man well.

I feel Formula One has far more to worry about the fans seeing that only Ferrarri could get away with some of the very blatant 'bending' of the rules which enabled Michael Schumacher to win seven titles in their cars. It is obvious that their far too close relationship with members of the FIA is polluting, if not corrupting the sport.

Had Senna not died so tragically it is extremely doubtful Michael would have won anything like as many titles. Lucky Michael, lucky Ferrarri.

Good luck Ron, we all know where the constructor's title for 2007 should really be heading.

Too much money involved, as in football, will eventually lead to it outpricing itself for genuine fans and the stands and grass verges will empty again.

Ken.H, Harrow, UK

Nowadays Fernando Alonso is the best driver. He has a really high and constant pace on race. He has demonstrated this along the season. Perhaps, if ron Denis had given equal treatment to Fernando and Lewis the problem now wouldn't exist. He has given better oportunities to Hamilton, some times against Alonso indeed. Now, I think, is too late to solve the problem, now is out of his hands. Maclaren must allow Fernando to leave the team.

HBN, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

I admire Ron Dennis for sticking to his principles of equality of opportunities for drivers.

However, it might be helpful that he set the record straight about what was actually said in Hungary and how it was said, clearly stressing the context of the discussion. Allowing journalists to make interpretations of their own will always be biased by their national or personal preferences.

Looking elsewhere while Alonso is slandered by the British and German press is not the best route to re-establishing TRUST, something that is essential if they continue to work together next year. Like it or not, without Alonso on the team, McLaren may see themselves consistently trailing Ferrari in 2008. And if Hamilton doesn't take the driver's title this year, he may have to wait a bit longer than he expected.

Alonso is not the most likeable guy in Formula 1, but neither were Prost, Senna (not sure about this one) or Schumacher. And the more they attack Alonso, the better he drives.

Michel Angstadt, Serranillos del Valle, (Madrid) Spain

Just remember where McLaren was one year ago, who was driving a Renault back then and what has happened since then to get the "silver arrows" at the top....

Yes, Fernando Alonso. He IS the current champion and he may not be as nice as Hamilton, but he signed to make McLaren competitive, not to be Mr. Smiles... and he has done.

Dennis and UK press, be thankful and respect the champion.... he deserves most.

Luis, Madrid, Spain

Ron said "‘Race on the circuit and don’t try to pressure me off the circuit".

Well, Hamilton is doing a good job, moaning the whole season, and english media putting him a saint

1º- In qualifing 3, who systematecly has an extra lap : Hamilton
2º- Who was the first to "speak to FIA" : Hamilton in Hungary, 18 points lost McLaren (Did you say anything about that???)
3º- Mossley said that if McLaren does anything wrong in order to penalize Alonso, they would have to go to Paris again..

Thanks god this is SPORT and not BIG BROTHER, It´ll win the driver with most points and not more supporters.

Luis, Madrid, Spain

Driver equality? If this is Ron's view it is a recent one! You could hardly say he treated Hakkenan and Coulthard equally. P Mungid, Dumfries

Patrick Mungid, Dumfries,

I think McLaren wants Hamilton to win the title for what they did in Belgian GP. Let's wait see what happen in Japan to have a clear view.

Minh Cao, Decatur, GA, USA

People seem to forget - as does RD himself - that there has definitely been favouritism in McLaren. Ask David Coulthard, or maybe even JPM. You can argue that DC wasn't as good as either of the flying Finns, but don't then claim that you have always believed in equality. It just doesn't stick, Ron.

Jenny, Newton, UK

The article above is an attempt to divert from the main facts: Ferrari secret documents were in McLaren possession. That is the fact ! It is against the rules and they need to be liable for, no matter who did it or who knew. Driver #1 or #2 has nothing to do with this. I feel bad for Mr. Dennis if he wasn't aware, but I am honest I doubt he wasn't. It is too big of a bite to let go.
The sad part is that if you know about it and decide to admit it, you get a free pass. I wouldn't necessarily fine $100 mil. but I would have held the two drivers with knowledge liable and take appropriate actions.
Very disappointing from the FIA.

Simon, Scottsdale, AZ,

I think the most expensive E-mail in the history comes from Pedro de la Rosa. It nonsense. How the FIA fines $100 millions just for an E-mail about brakes balance?
In my opinion, there is no evidence that MacLaren took profit from this spy case and because this ridiculous regulation which throw responsability to whole the team for every team membre isolated act, i think both FERRARI & MacLren should be fined. It not important who receive and who deliver the technical documents but both of them are involved in the case.
The real reason for this conspiracy is that Ferrari can't endure athird season whitout any title. Take it easy Mr DENNIS we know that we are at Ecclestoneland.

BAKKALI Mohammed Nidar, tangier, Morocco

RD shows wounds from unequal rights! There are many ways to treat drivers "equally". One is the one chosen by RD (that clearly favoured LH, who using Alonso`s set up, was faster in quali- at least until imola...). This option limits the drivers ability to the qualy. But if you really want to treat them equally for the entire weekend and not only for Saturdays you should let them choose their quali-race strategy freely (as it was at the beginning of the season until the press and the results made RD change that).
I can imagine that Alonso is mad at RD because, although he is pretending to treat them equaly, he is clearly favouring LH.

Now, that it seems that Alonso is finding a way around RD qualy tramp (and LH is suffering as shown by being 3 tenth slower on saturday, and going out of the track on sunday), one could fear that in the next races RD will use antics like not having the tires ready for the last qualy run in Hungary, or helping LH with pit stop strategy as in Spa .

Robert, Paris, France

Alonso is demonstrating to be, in addition to a big pilot,to have a great character and concentration. A pilot who knows the vehicle, to develop it and to make it champion. He did Champion to a Renault that was nothing in two years consecutive and he has made champion to MCLAREN which they did not gain anything 9 years ago. It arrived like the effective bichampion, with a contract of champion and many promises on the part of escudería to do champions to them for the first time many years ago. And they put a Hamilton that only benefits from the work of Alonso and to give as much by coat as it can. The only one betrayed has been Alonso, the only one who went of the language by an annoyance was Ron Dennis who has demonstrated to be a useless one to direct team and has created a stupid ambiguity

Inda , Granada, Spain

After reading carefully all the presented facts, i honestly feel that Hamilton and Denis are way out of control. Both cant be equally compared.
Alonso earned the #1 spot the past two years, that should count for something. Never has Alonso encountered so much trouble within the team.
About rewarding his mechanics for the victories... that goes on everywhere in real life... Why not share your pride with your team? Isnt it your own money you are sharing?

Paul Sanz, Barcelona, Spain

I cannot see any equal trearment in letting one of your drivers break an agreement and getting 10 points advantage from that and then being chummy with that driver and criticizing the other. If equality is his main concern, RD is doing remarkably not well.

monika, budapest, hungary

Whilst Mr Dennis has displayed good judgement and foresight in supporting the development of Lewis Hamilton, the same cannot be said for signing Alonso and not expecting fireworks when the two drivers were paired together. Take a closer look at the driver combination at others teams, Mr Dennis' life would be so much happier if Lewis' amazing talents were paired with a reasonably accomplished driver and not someone as good as Alonzo. His bank balance too would certainly have been much larger.

In this regard I think he is fully responsibe for the current state affairs at Maclaren Mercedes.

Gaunett, Toronto , Canada/Ontario

There is no doubt that Fernando brought all his expertisee and knowledge to McLaren. Ron Dennis used it for the whole team and now claims equality. If that was to be the case, Fernando would have never shared his winning tactics (on all circuits) with Ron. Does Fernando really have to use all his muscle fighting Hamilton or the other teams. For example in Spa, Fernando had to deffend his third position instead of fighting to win the race. Obviously, team work means that one part of the team has to help the other one win. Without team work, everyone becames the enemy (including team mates). It is Ron Dennis job (the coach of this team) to decide who on the team has to support the other. His strategy of equality has been fatal for McLaren. Please, shareholders and supporters: fire him.

TOMAS, Cartagena, Spain

Spa pit stop strategy. To comment on it's fairness you wold need to know who chose it. If each driver and his team are allowed to choose their race strategy then that's fair. If it was imposed by RD then that might not be fair.

Just because the stratgies were different it does not mean that the principle of equality wasn't being adhered to.

David, Camberley, Surrey

When Alonso was in Renault, he payed his engineers after he wons a race as a prizee, why he can´t do it now?? Are you frightened Hamilton? Why don't you do the shame as alonso? or you only wan´t the money?

Robert, banf, scotland

to Ron Dennis:
when you try to explain the same thing many times and in different ways, in the middle of a championship, I am afraid but I must believe first that you are not saying the truth, and second that you are not so equal with your comments as they are going only against one direction. Not so honest for me, sorry.

brijan, Bournemouth, England

The British press and Hamilton are afraid because it he knows that the championship its going to be for Alonso.

Lipe, Madrid,

I think that Ron Dennis is more sensible that the two drivers, but he is not a saint. I am not so sure that he gives equals rights to them. It is difficult to measure that. ¿Was the pitstop strategy in Spa an example of equals rights? ¿Can we compare the Alonso and Hamilton expertise? Someone is using the work experience of the other, so in fact is benefiting of the rival work. By the way, the F1 right now are beautiful tram races. Regards.

Fernandito, Cádiz, Spain

Ron Dennis' "policy of equality between his drivers" is a noble idea, and I think he really believes in it.
But, while Alonso and Hamilton may be pretty equal in their ability as racing drivers, Alonso *must* have an advantage when it comes to optimizing the car. And if Hamilton is allowed to share this advantage, that's actually *not* fair.
Nelson Piquet even used to pay his mechanics to hide his setup from his teammate, while Alonso isn't even allowed to pay *his* crew a bonus for winning.
Of course it was in McLaren's and Mercedes' interest to have Hamilton profit from Alonso's experience, so that's where fairness ends. Full stop.

Peter Friedrich, Altdorf, Germany

"Alonso is not just the actual champion, is the best F1 driver of all times" - been following F1 for very long George? When Speedy Gonzalez has won EIGHT titles he will have bettered Michael Schumacher's record. Don't hold your breath.

David Everyman, Exeter, UK

I think the story about Alonso keeping his set-up to himself is rather non-belivable.

The team maintains a database of all the car set-ups for every circuit.

So how exactly is Alonso going to lay claim to any of that data and how is he going to keep it a secret when the set-up is applied to the car by the TEAM machanics and after applying it they have to log it onto the system,

Telemetry - this is the data transmitted from the car on the circuit to the TEAM computers/database again how is Alonso going to keep this a seceret.

Verbal, Midlands, Uk

Alonso and his supporter know that they can not win this year F1 championship, that is why they look up to miracle, to cheat, to bribe, to threat and all vice never know in F1.
I will want to see the extent they can survive on these vices.
And to the patriotic supporters of Alonso, must remember that RON is not to blame. Destiny exist, this is the era of the rookie, let him reign.
Advise your guy to make the hay will the sun shine. Advise him to retire before the next GP.This is the best opportunity to save his face because He will reap the fruit of his work in few days time.
WATCHOUT NEXT WEEK HEADLINES: ROOKIE DETHRONE WORLD CHAMPION

SAM, castellon, Spain

Thanks to Maria for the most level headed comment here, and also to Juan for giving us all a laugh: he manages to talk about the fairness or otherwise of Alonso having to share data *within* the team, but doesn't get round to commenting on the fairness or otherwise of sharing data *between* teams.

Gringo, London, UK

I just feel everything is out of control and MEDIA has a LOT to do with it. You won´t find saints on F1 but for sure not devils either. Just think in the biggest champion of all times, Schumacher...was he the kindest and more honest competitor? I don´t think so. Yes, Hamilton is brilliant but maybe just like Kovalainen only with a better car, he still needs to prove his value. And what can we say about Alonso, two times champion, we can´t erase that We make like him or not, but these are facts.

Maria, Rio, Brasil

I disagree. Ron's determination to provide equal machinery to both drivers has absolutley nothing to do with his team cheating. The only reason to cheat is to beat the opposition.
If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen, Ron....

Mark K, Adelaide, South Australia

Will you accept a Spanish view of the affair? OK, there it goes.
I think winning races is not only a matter of driving fast, which Alonso and Hamilton obviously do, but it is also a matter of the car set-up. And in this respect, Alonso has proved all over his career that he is the best.
Dennis acknowledged a couple of months ago that it could be frustrating for Alonso to have to share his knowledge and his better and more experienced views as to which settings are better for every circuit, but he said that´s the way things are here. It is not fair having to come out with your main competitor having all the relevant data to beat you.... it simply is not fair. Why not let every driver has his own team of mechanics and engineers to decide on the technical part? This would be complete fairness, the way things are now can be a favourable treament for the rookie.

Juan, Madrid, Spain

The big question in my mind in this being the case - there being an equality policy - why is/was Alonso so unhappy about his treatment? And Ron being famous for this approach, why has he (Alonso) ever expected anything different ? I beleive Ron, although I dont agree with Ed completely that the issue couldnt have been handled better by him - I would have told Alonso that if he doenst like the way he is being serviced that he consideres his contract mutually shortenend to one year and as a result he will be treated as a No 2 driver.

Mark, Warsaw, Poland

In the end, everyone gets what he deserves; Mr Dennis insists in his equality policy, great, but stick to it and do not let Fernando down to Hamilton! (three more laps in spa!!!)
To Fernando: as Cervantes wrote it in "El Quijote": 'They are barking, Sancho, but we're riding'. So let them bark, and win the championship!!!

davewall, MADRID, Spain

Sincerely, I can not understand, your continuous defence about Mr. Dennis way of doing/thinking. What did Mr Todt do with Schumacher and Barrichelo?, or what did Mr. Chapman do with Mr Andretti?, did those teams have a car A and car B, and the crew of the team B where disappointed?. And so, why did Mr Dennis accept to sign the contract of Alonso assuming that he will be nº 1 in the team? (read MARCA today's edition). I am sure that Alonso had made many incorrect things, but the man who has the responsibility of leading the team EFFICIENTLY, and didn’t get this objective, Mr Dennis, is the principle guilty of the actual problems of McLaren. No doubt about it. It is not a reason of nationalities, but yes of management.

Carlos, Madrid, Spain

Dear England, I think you are VERY scared. You see the BEST DRIVER in Formula One coming and your pants start to smell funny. So you try your best to put a lot of crap on him but you know it doesn't work . The guy doesn't care what you say, he's way too focused on winning his 3rd world championship

Jose, London,

Errm remind us again why Montoya left...shame they forgot those principals when hCuthard was racing for them and when Montoya was there.

Did they also suffer selective amnesia when they were hiring Alonso and told him he would be No.1 ?

Verbal, Midlands, Uk

Dennis didn't favor Senna over Prost, so he certainly isn't going to favor Alfonso over Hamilton.

David Masu, Zürich,

For me is very simple, if you want to win drive faster.
Lately Hamilton is very good at this, is a shame for the
sport to ask for privileges or seek illegal information of
other cars.

Karin Latofski, Tampico, Mexico

i Admire what Ron Dennis has done with McLaren and how he hasn't caved in to the immense pressure he has clearly been under, however i wonder if David Couthard also thinks he has 'always' had a ppolicy of complete equality between his drivers. . . .

Howard, Tokyo, Japan

I just can't feel sorry for anyone who has a plane.

TH, Beijing,

What is money when you do not have honour and principles. There is only one Dennis in the field of motro racing to maintain this high standard. Keep it up. I am all for it no matter what it takes and not succumb to blacmail or dishonesty. Bravo!

LIM Teng Hooi, KUala Lumpur, Malaysia

Alonso is not just the actual champion, is the best F1 driver of all times, you like or not, and thanks to him McLaren is wining races again. Hamilton is an advantage pupil, so be happy Lewis could be second this year. There is nothing unfair in the first corner maneouver in Spa. The only unfair here is what Hamilton did in Hungary and what the two engineer of McLaren did to Ferrari. So, try to be most respectful to who bring to McLaren win again, the Spaniard FERNANDO ALONSO.

George, Barcelona, Spain

Don't see the point of McLaren letting Alonso win and leave the team. I think they tried to get Hamilton to third at Spa by doing 3 more laps. However, it did not pay off. Hopefully, it will soon.

Michael, Tunbridge Wells,

Ed writes: "In the meantime, Dennis is going to stick to his philosophy, whatever the consequences. “There will be no lack of effort on our part to try and maintain the core principles of our company and the principles by which we run it because it is ingrained in the company,” he said."

Ed, Any comments about pitstop strategy in Spa?

Whatever!! To my eyes is clear. Can'y wait to see strategy in Japan. Not going to Japan myself or Shangai, but I may go to Brazil. And I hope Raikkonen gets it!

Insider from Suffolk, Suffolk,