Former Conservative leader Michael Howard, who has been reported to befuriousat Mr Willetts over his speech, has said he is making no comment on the row.
It was Alonso's turn to befuriousat the Italian Grand Prix later that year when he was demoted five places for allegedly holding up Schumacher's team-mate Felipe Massa in qualifying.
If the two tycoons manage to appoint feeble non-execs in the coming weeks, says Paul Reynolds, a media analyst at Deutsche Bank, investors will befurious.