Alonso wants Hamilton split

Monday, October 01, 2007 3:35pm

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Fernando Alonso has said he would be "delighted" if he was not a team-mate of Lewis Hamilton next season.

The relationship of the McLaren pair has deteriorated this season – Hamilton's first in the sport – amid a number of problems.

The two found themselves competing against one another for the drivers' championship, a race which remains alive with two races to go despite the Briton holding a daunting 12-point advantage.

And Hamilton, who is regarded by Alonso as team boss Ron Dennis' favourite, also accused the Spaniard of caring less about the team because of his part in the email exchange which saw McLaren fined a record total for their role in the 'spygate' scandal.

The latest twist to the increasingly fractured relationship of the two drivers has seen Alonso claim he favours a split with Hamilton because he believes the two drivers cannot work together.

"I'd be delighted if I didn't carry on with Hamilton," Alonso told Spanish radio station SER.

"If we are not together next season and I can go to a good car, then great. If we have to carry on together then we will have another great battle."

Alonso is rumoured to favour a move to McLaren's main rivals Ferrari next season after just one year at the Woking team.

However the Spaniard has denied the speculation because both the Italian team's current drivers are under contract to race again in 2008.

"I don't have any news about Ferrari," he said.

"They have a contract with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa for next year, it's not a possibility that has entered into my thoughts for the coming year."