Dennis keen to keep Alonso

Alonso is contracted to the British team until the end of 2009, but in the wake of the controversial events that blighted his Hungarian Grand Prix, said he was unsure about driving for them next year.

Dennis though, is no stranger to an intra-team struggle, having housed Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in 1988 and 1989, and wants the Spaniard, who has been responsible for turning the MP4/22 into the best car in F1, to stay.

"We have two drivers who are contracted for several years in the future," said Dennis, referring to both Alonso and Britain's Lewis Hamilton, who are not currently on speaking terms after the events of qualifying at the Hungaroring.

"We will respect our part of the bargain - we hope the drivers will respect theirs, because that's what a contract is about."

Alonso is not the only McLaren driver being rumoured with a move away from Woking.

British newspaper The Daily Mirror reported that Ferrari are preparing a £70 million swoop for Hamilton. But with both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa under contract, this would seem highly unlikely.

"There is an inevitability that these things are rumoured and discussed," said Dennis, laughing off speculation that his protégé of ten years would jump ship.