Renault boss Flavio Briatore insisted he played no part in Fernando Alonso's 2007 move to McLaren despite his role as the world champion's manager.
"I was at no time directly or indirectly involved in the conduct of these negotiations," said Briatore.
"Fernando made a personal decision that his future lies outside the Renault team when his current contract expires at the end of 2006.
"He contacted, and negotiated with McLaren at his own instigation."
Briatore brought Spain's Alonso into Formula One and helped him blossom into the sport's youngest world champion at 24.
The flamboyant Italian is likely to replace Alonso with another of his proteges - Heikki Kovalainen, of Finland.
A product of Renault's driver development programme, he will be the F1 team's test driver next season.