Motor Racing: Denial on Senna sacking

THE McLAREN Formula One team have strongly denied rumours that their former world champion, Ayrton Senna, has been threatened with the sack for Sunday's French Grand Prix.

There has been speculation that Senna will be replaced by Mika Hakkinen, of Finland, at Magny-Cours following the Brazilian's prolonged wrangles with McLaren over money this year.

But Norman Howell, spokesman for the English-based team, said Senna would be driving for McLaren this weekend. 'There has been a problem for every single race this season, as he has driven on a race-by-race contract and everything is finalised at the last moment,' Howell said. 'This is a breeding ground for rumours.

'But there's nothing particularly new now. He hasn't hardened his position and we haven't hardened our position. Mika has come to every single race except Canada because he's the third driver and it's valuable to have him around. There's nothing particularly special about that.'

The Williams-Renault team are to team up with Rothmans Racing for the next two grand prix seasons. Two cars will be entered in the 1994 and 1995 Formula One world championships in the name of Rothmans Williams-Renault.