Sep.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has been defended after reports in Britain this week accused him of attempting to bribe his McLaren mechanics.



The Daily Mirror on Monday said F1's reigning world champion "pays to beat" his teammate Lewis Hamilton by attempting to offer each of the mechanics on his side of the garage $1300 for a win over the British rookie.



The publication called it an "amazing stunt" that was "vetoed instantly" by team boss Ron Dennis because it is "divisive for team morale".



The Spanish newspaper Diario As hit back at what it describes as "another lie from England" about the 26-year-old.



"Alonso has always offered a bonus to his mechanics," 'As' revealed.



"At Renault he used to pay thousands of euros to his mechanics for each victory, and sometimes he invited them out for dinner near the factory in Enstone as well.



"The troops adored him for it."



'As' journalist Carlos Miquel concludes that the sustained British media attack on Alonso is an attempt "to disturb him and to try to cause a sporting error that Hamilton can benefit from".



Former McLaren driver and Briton Mark Blundell also played down the $1300 bonus claims.



"I can't see what the fuss is about," he wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.



"Drivers have been offering bonuses to mechanics for years. It doesn't split the camp. It is an extra incentive for the boys."



Triple world champion Niki Lauda said Alonso belongs to one of two camps of formula one drivers.



"There are the ones who see nothing more important than being the best only on the track. I was one of them.



"On the other hand there are drivers who use politics to try to strengthen their position, and Alonso is like that," he told the German newspaper Bild.



Lauda continued: "Alain Prost was like this too, but Alonso is even worse. Instead of trying so hard to achieve number one status, he should just drive quicker."