The fractured relationship between Fernando Alonso and McLaren reached such extreme heights during the 2007 season that the FIA felt compelled to dispatch an independent steward to the Brazilian Grand Prix, the championship finale, to ensure the two-time F1 drivers' champion was not being disadvantaged compared to his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
In the lead-up to the race at Interlagos, Carlos Garcia, head of the Spanish motorsport federation, revealed the extraordinary intervention after meeting with FIA president Max Mosley on October 3, just weeks before the title-deciding race in São Paulo.
"Yes, it's true that the FIA will have a steward making sure that nothing wrong happens to Fernando, especially in qualifying, which is where there have been more complaints or strange situations in the last few grands prix," Garcia confirmed at the time.
The decision to send an independent observer to Interlagos was an unprecedented step in F1's modern era, highlighting just how toxic the atmosphere had become at McLaren between its two championship contenders.
Hamilton held a slender four-point lead over Alonso in the drivers' championship standings heading into the finale. Kimi Raikkonen, just seven points behind Hamilton, remained a mathematical possibility for Ferrari.
The British driver's advantage had been dramatically reduced following his catastrophic retirement at the penultimate round in China, where he slid into the gravel trap at the pit lane entrance while running on severely worn wet tyres.
The incident handed vital points to both Alonso and Raikkonen, transforming what had been a comfortable championship lead into a three-way battle.
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Growing paranoia within McLaren
Garcia's revelation about the independent steward highlighted the depths of Alonso's suspicions regarding his treatment within the McLaren camp.
The Spaniard had grown increasingly frustrated throughout the season as Hamilton matched and often exceeded his pace, contrary to Alonso's expectations of preferential treatment as the established star.
The relationship had deteriorated catastrophically since the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Alonso deliberately held Hamilton in the pits during qualifying, preventing his team-mate from completing a final flying lap.
The incident triggered a chain reaction that ultimately led to McLaren's $100 million fine and exclusion from the constructors' championship.
"On October 3, I had a meeting with Max Mosley [the FIA president] where I showed my concern over the situation that Fernando is going through, which is no secret, and he reassured me," Garcia explained, revealing the formal channels through which Alonso's camp had escalated their grievances.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis attempted to project an image of business as usual in the run-up to the round in Brazil, issuing a carefully worded statement that nevertheless acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the team.
"This has been a tremendous season to which the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team and our drivers have, I believe, contributed a great deal," Dennis said.
"This contribution has been enhanced by allowing Fernando and Lewis to race each other with complete equality. This will, of course, continue in Brazil, where the entire team will be doing its absolute best to win the drivers' world championship."
The statement represented Dennis' public position throughout the increasingly fractious campaign, maintaining that both drivers received identical treatment despite Alonso's growing assertions to the contrary.
A clear warning
Garcia specifically referenced qualifying sessions as the source of Alonso's concerns, citing "complaints or strange situations" that had emerged in recent races.
The Chinese Grand Prix saw Alonso unable to understand how he had lost time to Hamilton during qualifying, leading to outspoken criticisms of the Woking-based squad to the Spanish media.
Speculation had emerged that Alonso's tyre pressures had been set at incorrect levels, contributing to his qualifying deficit.
"There are two Spanish drivers at McLaren, and it makes sense for the federation to be there," Garcia noted, referencing test driver Pedro de la Rosa alongside Alonso.
"Honestly, I think the treatment in this final race of the season will be the same, and that there will be equality for both drivers."
The FIA's intervention underscored the unique pressures surrounding the 2007 finale. Rarely in F1's history had a championship battle been accompanied by such internal turmoil within a competing team, with allegations of sabotage and favouritism threatening to leave the door ajar for Raikkonen.
Garcia's confidence that fairness would prevail, however, was carried with a warning: "It couldn't be any other way because it's what common sense calls for, as there is a Ferrari driver behind and the British team have to fight against the red cars, not against their drivers. Fernando must be calm."
It served as a reminder that McLaren's internal warfare was potentially gifting the championship to Raikkonen, who was lurking just seven points behind. Any McLaren misstep could prove decisive...
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