McLaren boss Ron Dennis has said that relations between themselves and Ferrari are better than ever.
McLaren boss says relations with rivals better than ever
Following the 'spying' controversy which embroiled the teams in 2007, and despite their clash at the recent Belgian Grand Prix, Ron Dennis has said that relations between McLaren and Ferrari are now better than ever.
The relationship between Formula One's fiercest rivals sank to an all-time low last year when McLaren were fined £50 million and stripped of their Constructors' Championship points after the FIA found they had benefited from a leaked dossier of secret Ferrari technical information.
Championship contenders once again in 2008, the teams also have clear differences of opinion over the decision to penalise McLaren's Lewis Hamilton for his overtaking manoeuvre on Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at Spa-Francorchamps two weekends ago.
With Hamilton demoted from first place to third in the race, his main title rival, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, was handed the victory.
But, in an interview with Italian newspaper
Corriere Della Sera, Dennis voiced the opinion that such disagreements were part and parcel of the sport and that, behind the scenes, senior personnel from both teams now had closer links.
"The events of 2007 are behind us; the matter has now been closed by both the FIA and Ferrari," he said.
"On the Thursday before the Italian Grand Prix, when I met (Ferrari president) Luca di Montezemolo, I smiled at the thought that he'd entered Formula One with Ferrari in 1973, while I've been involved since 1966, even if we had different types of jobs from each other in the old days.
"And now, 30 or 40 years on, we share the same passion. On track, our rivalry will always be intense - but co-operation between our two teams is now more well-established than at any time in the past.
"Luca is an old friend. Granted, inevitably, our relationship has had its ups and downs as a result of the competitiveness of our respective organisations, but there's a deep and mutual respect between us."
Besides his friendship with Di Montezemolo, Dennis revealed that the appointment of Stefano Domenicali as Ferrari team principal was also a factor.
He added: "I also have a soft spot for Stefano Domenicali; he's worked his way up from the bottom to the top, and I like that: it adds incalculable added value. Stefano will do a great job, you'll see."
