The timing of the news immediately triggered speculation that Frenchman Eric Boullier could be heading to McLaren, who were due to launch their 2014 car later in the day in an online presentation.
Lotus apologised on Monday for bad language in a heated exchange with their driver Kimi Raikkonen during Sunday's Indian Formula One Grand Prix.
McLaren play down Alonso memory loss.
McLaren's new Formula One car made a belated but encouraging test debut on Wednesday with Jenson Button hopeful the team was picking up speed on and off the track after a dismal 2013 season.
The 2007 champion, who is out of contract at the end of the year and has been linked to other top teams, indicated at Spa that his salary had not been fully paid and Lotus knew what had to be resolved before any talks could begin.
Britain's Jenson Button will stand in for Fernando Alonso at next month's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix while the Spaniard competes in the Indianapolis 500 on the same day, McLaren announced on Friday.
Formula One's new qualifying format was given a second chance in Bahrain on Saturday after flopping on its debut in Australia but team bosses and drivers declared it as bad as before.
Fernando Alonso has credited McLaren with restoring the motivation he lost after five years at Ferrari.
Formula One drivers have backed proposals to introduce a 'virtual safety car' or automatic speed limiter that would force the entire field to slow when yellow warning flags are waved.
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