(McLaren Mercedes)
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis has denied reports that his team have already signed Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for next season. It was announced early this morning that reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Infiniti Red Bull Racing at the end of the season with reports suggesting he will join Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next season prompting speculation about Fernando Alonso's future.
However speaking in Japan on Saturday Dennis confirmed that his team have made no decision on their driver line-up fo next season. The Englishman said:
'We do not have a contract with any driver at this moment in time. It isn't our priority.'
The Woking based outfit who will switch to Honda power next season are yet to announce a title sponsor for next season having run the entire 2014 season with no title sponsor following the withdrawal of Vodafone from Formula One sponsorship at the end of last season.
Since then the team have run with an existing sponsor on their side-pod. It is expected however that they will have a new title sponsor on board ahead of their debut season with Honda next year.
'Of course, we talk - of course we do all the things you expect us to do. But at this moment in time we have not got contracts that we have activated.
"It is not a great position to be in if you are either Jenson [Button] or Kevin [Magnussen], but the reality is they understand.'
It is believed that the team have an option on Kevin Magnussen for next season however in relation to Jenson Button he has no contract in place for next season and stated on Thursday 'Don't feel sorry for me.'
Button went on to say:
'My aim is to be racing here (at McLaren) next year, I have spent five years with this team.' he concluded by saying:
'I've been through some very good times and the last couple of years have been difficult, but we have worked hard and I would really like to see all that hard work come to something in the future.'
© Ben Johnston 2014
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