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No actual 2014 talks with Alonso - Whitmarsh
Whitmarsh is being guarded in his comments because the 32-year-old Alonso is tightly under contract to Ferrari for the next few years.
GMM
Edited: Sep 20, 2013, 1:28 PM
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Sep.20 (GMM) Martin Whitmarsh on Friday denied McLaren has made an actual approach to Fernando Alonso or his management about driving for the team in 2014.
"No," he told the British broadcaster Sky after Friday practice in Singapore.
"No," said the Woking based team's boss, when asked the clarified question again.
But that doesn't mean there is no truth to the rampant paddock rumours about McLaren and 2015 engine supplier Honda wanting to field Jenson Button alongside fellow former world champion and current Ferrari driver Alonso.
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
Photo by: XPB Images
Earlier, when asked if he would sign Alonso, Whitmarsh told the Daily Mail: "Yes, if I could."
Whitmarsh is being guarded in his comments because the 32-year-old Alonso is tightly under contract to Ferrari for the next few years.
"I expect our driver lineup for next year to stay the same but we are open to anything and in the long term he would be a great asset," he added on Friday.
"Fernando is in charge of his own destiny, but we'll see."
Alonso, earlier linked with Red Bull until the world champions signed Daniel Ricciardo, is - despite his public comments - clearly unhappy that Ferrari has signed a driver of the calibre of Kimi Raikkonen for 2014.
Whitmarsh, insisting Alonso's acrimonious split with McLaren at the end of 2007 is now "a long time ago", hinted at the Spaniard's discontent at Ferrari.
"It's wrong for me to comment on what's going on in Ferrari but people were surprised with the recruitment of Kimi", he said.
"Whether it is a sustainable lineup I don't know," Whitmarsh added.
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