Ron Dennis: McLaren 'let Lewis Hamilton walk away'

Lewis Hamilton (Getty Images)

Ron Dennis has revealed McLaren could have pushed to retain Lewis Hamilton, but chose not to.

Hamilton this week started in earnest a three-year deal with Mercedes, ending his 14-year association with McLaren, the last six of which were in Formula One.

Dennis said: "I think it's wrong to portray that Lewis left this team.

"Did we have the ability to create a situation where we could have stayed together? Categorically, yes.

"Would that have been the right thing to do? We didn't think so."