BBC Sport: Alonso wants split from Hamilton

Fernando Alonso says he would rather not continue alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next year.

The Spaniard, set to lose the title to his team-mate, said: "I'd be delighted if I didn't carry on with Hamilton."

"If we are not together next season and I can go to a good car, then great. If we have to carry on together then we will have another great battle."

Meanwhile, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has confirmed he has offered Alonso his old job back.

"I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren we would be pleased to have him back," said Briatore.

Briatore is convinced Alonso would not have quit Renault if he had been aware he would receive the same treatment as a rookie.

"If, before signing the contract, they told Fernando, 'Come with us, but you won't have any sort of advantage', he wouldn't have gone," Briatore told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "If you hire a world champion, then you must give him the number one status."

The relationship between the two McLaren drivers deteriorated after Hamilton criticised Alonso last week.

Alonso, who was speaking in an interview with Spanish radio station SER, also denied speculation he could take 2008 off, returning to Formula One to drive for Ferrari when his McLaren contract runs out in two years' time.

"It hasn't entered into my plans not to race next year," he said.

"I don't have any news about Ferrari. They have a contract with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa for next year, it's not a possibility that has entered into my thoughts for the coming year."

Hamilton says he would rather Alonso was not still at McLaren next year, even if it meant the double world champion ending up at Ferrari.

"I'd much rather it were Fernando at Ferrari and me at McLaren," said Hamilton prior to winning at Fuji Speedway on Sunday.

Alonso's relationship with McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has broken down after a series of disagreements during the year.

It reached a low point during a row at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August over Alonso's status in the team.

Alonso threatened during the row to reveal incriminating e-mail evidence about McLaren's involvement in the spy row that has dominated the sport this summer to the sport's governing body, the FIA.

He quickly apologised and withdrew the threat, but not before Dennis had telephoned FIA president Max Mosley to tell him of the conversation.

It ultimately led to McLaren being thrown out of this year's constructors' championship and fined £49.2m for having confidential Ferrari technical information in their possession.

And Hamilton has turned up the pressure on McLaren to tear up Alonso's contract, which still has two years to run, by saying he sees a long-term future at the team.

Commentary:

Say it isn't so. They've both been so good to McLaren :(

I mean Hamilton's awesome and staff but this is the best 1-2 team since before I was born. I suppose this is why Schumacher never had a strong second driver in Ferrari with him. Damn your egos, boys! Suck it up for the team!

The problem, I suppose, is that McLaren has never been like Ferrari (i.e. to have a favourite son). McLaren has always treated their drivers fairly, and the championship isn't given to one driver on a silver platter. Alonso should have known and thought of that before he signed up with Ron Dennis' golden boy. I mean Dennis personally head-hunted Hamilton when he was 10 and has for the past 12 years sponsored him. Didn't he see this coming?

Then again, F1 drivers aren't known for their mild temperament so this could have popped up in any team given this circumstance.

Anyway, that was the gist of what's happened in the past month. This article has more than one implication though.

Firstly, Alonso leaving McLaren is something all parties are alright with.

Secondly, Alonso going to Renault would put Nelson Piquet, Jr back a few years from his F1 debut.

Thirdly, it would also mean that Fisichella is out of the picture.

Fourthly, does this mean that Gary Paffett will be taking over the second driver spot?

Finally, doesn't McLaren realise that they're losing the best 1-2 winning team there is? What better way to hold off the other team from points than to have shoo-ins for both spots at the top of the podium?