Following the qualifying incident on Saturday, which saw him demoted to sixth on the grid and his team excluded from scoring Constructors' Championship points, there is widespread speculation that Fernando Alonso might seek an early release from his multi-year contract with McLaren.

However, team boss Ron Dennis was quick to pour cold water on the speculation last night, admitting that such talk was "inevitable".

"There is an inevitability that these things are rumoured and discussed in other teams," the Englishman told reporters last night. "However, we have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future. We will respect our part of that bargain and that part of the situation. We hope that the drivers respect theirs because that's what a contract is about."

Before the season got underway, many saw the McLaren line-up as one of the most exciting, a two-time World Champion partnered by a precious young talent. However, Lewis Hamilton's 'out of the box' pace, his determination, and his racing maturity took everyone by surprise, not least Alonso.

With Hamilton an obvious title challenger from the outset, it wasn't long before fans, the media and F1 insiders were wondering whether the partnership might end in tears, especially in light of the problems the team encountered when they partnered Alain Prost with Ayrton Senna.

Dennis assured everyone that he had it under control, insisting that the rivalry would be good for his team, and good for F1. However, it wasn't long - especially with the help of the British and Spanish media - before chinks began to appear in the relationship, culminating in a difference of opinion regarding team status in Monaco, and then the debacle witness this weekend.

Dennis, however, remains adamant.

"It is a challenging situation to manage and I fully recognise that," he admitted. "But that goes with my job. I have to take any decisions that are in the interests of the team. "We are most definitely going to maintain a very firm commitment to our principle of equality."

"We will continue to function as a Grand Prix team with specific values," he continued, "and if anybody does not want to be part of those values, irrespective of where they sit in the organisation, ultimately they all have a choice. But we will not deviate away from our values."

Renault has hinted that it would like to see the return of the prodigal son, though in all honesty it is debatable as to whether the French team would be able to offer him a winning team. On the other hand, Ferrari boss has dismissed talk of a bid for Hamilton, describing it as "untrue speculation".

Fact is, much of this could be outside Dennis' control. It is clear that all is not entirely well within the Woking team at present, and once the mainstream press gets involved things will probably get worse.