By Alan Baldwin Thursday, September 27th 2007, 10:04 GMT
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 teammate 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 rumours 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."
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."
