By Alan Baldwin
FUJI, Japan (Reuters) - Formula One champion Fernando
Alonso will do his talking on the track now that McLaren team
boss Ron Dennis has revealed they are barely on speaking terms,
the Spaniard said on Thursday.
Meeting reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso
shrugged aside media criticism of his role in a spying
controversy with Ferrari that cost his McLaren team a record
$100 million fine as well as the constructors' title.
He also made clear that he had neither the time nor the
inclination to waste time in setting the record straight while
the title battle raged.
Alonso, chasing his third title in a row, is two points
behind British rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton with races in
Japan, China and Brazil remaining.
"About the spying I have nothing to say...I will try to
speak on the track and try to do my job," he said at the Fuji
circuit.
"I really think that many of the things that have been said
about the spying and about me are totally wrong and not the
truth.
"But these things happen and I will not answer every day
what they have been saying about me and about anything, I will
not lose time on that.
"I cannot be every day and every week answering rumors and
telling my point of view or my version or my truth to anyone,"
added Alonso.
"So at the moment...I am completely focused on the last
three races and that is the truth."
NOT TALKING
Dennis said at a hearing of the governing body in Paris
into the spy saga this month that he and his driver, whom he
described as a 'remarkable recluse', had not been on speaking
terms since the beginning of August.
Alonso said he was surprised to hear that as they had
chatted briefly while checking in at their hotel on the Friday
before the Belgian Grand Prix -- the day after the team boss
made the remark.
The undoubtedly frosty relations were triggered by a row
between the two on the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix in
August, during which Alonso revealed the existence of
incriminating e-mails about leaked Ferrari data that helped
seal McLaren's punishment.
The British media have accused Alonso of threatening
McLaren in an attempt to force the team into giving him number
one status over the sensational Hamilton, who has led the
championship since April.
Recent media reports in Spain and Britain have also
suggested that Alonso wants to escape his McLaren contract and
return to Renault or move to Ferrari, but the driver presented
a different reality.
"For next year I have a contract with this team and I don't
see any problem on that," he said.
"I have been working with the engineers, with the
mechanics, with everybody from the beginning of the season,
until now with the same relationship," he added.
"They are all very professional, very focused on doing the
best we can and we are achieving good results. I won four
races, I make some good podiums and I am fighting for the world
championship so everything is going quite well for me and I am
happy."