McLaren impose alcohol ban

(GMM) Ron Dennis has banned McLaren's 2007 driver lineup from drinking alcohol.

Despite Ferrari-bound Kimi Raikkonen's supposed alcoholic indiscretions during his tenure in 2002-2006, the Woking based team's chairman suggested that the only sips taken by Lewis Hamilton or world champion Fernando Alonso this year should be champagne on the podium.

After his drivers trained with Olympic athletes in Finland, Dennis told the Mirror: "We don't see why drivers need to have even one drink in the course of a season."

The irony of Dennis' stance, however, is that whiskey sponsor Johnnie Walker's McLaren-associated slogan for this year is: "Be a champion. Drink responsibly."

Meanwhile, a film will be made about the life of the team's late founder, Bruce McLaren.

It will be co-produced by Barrie Osborne, who worked on the highly successful films The Matrix and Lord of the Rings.

Filming is tipped to begin in 2008.