Nov.29 (GMM) Ron Dennis has rejected suggestions that McLaren is perhaps the least driver-friendly team in formula one.

After Fernando Alonso ended his new McLaren tenure after a tumultuous single season in 2007, former team driver Juan Pablo Montoya said he sympathised with the Spaniard.

"I understand where Fernando is coming from. I felt the same," he said.

But Dennis, the Woking based team's long time boss, denies that the Alonso and Montoya examples prove that McLaren is difficult to work for.

"I don't think we have more problems with drivers than other teams," he told the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.

"Actually, the only relationship that ended badly was with Fernando, but that is over now, there is nothing to do about it, and we are thinking completely about 2008."

McLaren's relationship with former grand prix winner Montoya, who has since switched to NASCAR, imploded in mid-2006. F1 historians cite an eight-car pileup at his last race at Indianapolis, after which he was named an instigator, as the final catalyst for the split.

El Tiempo quotes Dennis as branding Montoya "a fool" for allowing recriminations after the incident to colour his decision to immediately quit the sport.

"We have an agreement to not criticise one another," the Briton explained. "However, I believe he was unwise to leave formula one over one incident. He is a good driver and a good person.

"But I can understand it (Montoya's decision), because his position within the team was complicated and it became very difficult, especially with the technical group," Dennis explained.