Alonso feels unrewarded by McLaren
By Pablo Elizalde


World champion Fernando Alonso believes McLaren are not paying him back for his help in moving the team forward this year.

The Spanish driver joined McLaren from Renault, with whom he won two consecutive titles, but the relationship with the British squad has been strained and doubts have been cast over the two-time champion's future in the team, despite his contract running for two more seasons.

The situation took a turn for the worse in Hungary, when Alonso was penalised for impeding teammate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying after the Briton disobeyed team orders.

Although Alonso and the team cleared the air ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix, the Spaniard has admitted he is still not entirely happy with how he is treated.

"That is always very clear in any team, you know, to have equal opportunities to everybody and to have an equal car to your teammate," Alonso said on BBC Radio. "What I think sometimes, and what I asked the team, is that I gave the team a lot.

"When I arrived in December, I remember the car I drove; I remember the results they had in 2006. And now, you know, I brought to the team half a second, six tenths, whatever, and I don't see anything giving me back.

"So that's the only thing."

In 2006, McLaren endured their first win-less season in a decade. This year, the team are leading both championships, with Alonso seven points behind Hamilton.

Alonso himself told reporters during a karting event in Turkey on Thursday that he didn't know if he would be at the team next season.

Spanish media speculated this week that Alonso could even take a sabbatical next season if he is unable to find a competitive drive outside of McLaren.