A Knigthood for Ron Dennis?

The Formula 1 season that just ended - sort of - last Sunday divided fans in a way that few have before. In fact, there was a lot of division within the Formula 1 paddock itself - and that is a bit of an understatement.

But it is interesting how the interpretations of the so-called spy scandal between McLaren Mercedes and Ferrari varied so much from person to person. It was a sad time in many respects for Ron Dennis and the McLaren team, as the team became involved in such a dirty, difficult affair. In fact, it was a sad time for Ferrari as well.

There was much talk in the paddock in the last few months about whether or not the affair would have any effect on the eventual possibility of a knighthood for Dennis, who has steered his team into being the second most successful in the sport since he joined McLaren in 1980. McLaren has done a lot more than just win races, as the various parts of the company attest - the sports car making arm, being not the least among them. The McLaren factory is a great work of British architecture, made by Lord Norman Foster.

Many motor sports personalities have earned knighthoods - Sir Frank Williams, Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Jackie Stewart - and with his achievements at McLaren, Dennis would clearly appear to be a likely candidate. Yet as I said, that spy scandal this summer got a few people in the paddock wondering what effect it might have. In the end, I suppose maybe some of that talk somehow spilled out into the world, as a fan has put up petition on the Web site of the British Prime Minister's office asking that Ron Dennis be granted a knighthood by the Queen. As I write these words there are more than 500 signatures - including from people like Jean-Louis Schlesser, a French racing driver.