Fernando Alonso's comments, in a corporate press release, issued as part of the Renault R26 launch media pack, 'reveals' why he is leaving Renault at the end of the current season to join McLaren, a move which stunned the F1 paddock when announced.

"This has been my team for five years, and Renault made me world champion at a very young age," admitted the Spaniard. "On the other side, when I arrived in Formula 1 and spent a year with Minardi, I was fighting with the Renaults - and now we are at the front of the grid.

"We have helped each other. But I do not think a driver can race all his career for the same team. I am still young and felt I needed a new challenge from 2007. So I made the choice that I think is best, and my career will start a new chapter next season."

Asked if the move to McLaren will distract him in 2006 whilst driving for Renault, Alonso says: "Not at all. Formula 1 is a very complex sport, and we have a very long championship over 19 races. I am a competitor who always gives 100%. In our world, it is impossible to maintain your focus on the job if you are distracted. So, until the Monday after the final race, I am not thinking about anything else. It doesn't matter which cars I come up against, I will be driving to my maximum for Renault."

"My goal is to defend the number 1 on the nose of the R26," he adds.

However, speaking 'live' to reporters at the launch of the car, it was clear that there is a little more to the story than the press release would have us believe.

Asked if Renault could have done more to prevent him moving him to a rival team, the Spaniard replied: "Yes, probably yes."

However, when pushed to give further details he was not forthcoming: "It's between me and Renault," he said. "It was not more money, it's more future."

It's widely thought that this related to the question mark over Renault's long-term commitment to Formula One, at a time when many are predicting that the French manufacturer, particularly having won the 'double', con no longer - certainly in the long-term - justify the vast expense of competing in the sport, especially at such a high level.

Then again, these 'fears' were (slightly) allayed by Renault president Carlos Ghosn, who promised that the French manufacturer will remain in the sport providing the team remains competitive and that there is a decent (financial) return on the money invested.

Team President, Patrick Faure, admitted that he was surprised by the Spaniard's decision.

"He never asked us," said the Frenchman, referring to Alonso's supposed concerns over the team's long-term commitment to the sport. "If he had asked the question, we probably would have been able to answer him. But we were so involved in 2006, 2007 that we didn't think it was that important to conclude something for 2007 in 2005.

"Frankly, if he thinks that, then it's a pity he didn't discuss it with us," he added. "He never asked me the question 'Are you going to be there in 2007 or 08?' because I would have answered yes."

Meanwhile, there is still a sense of 'bewilderment' that Alonso's manager, Flavio Briatore, who is also Renault team boss, appeared not to be involved in the negotiations between his driver and McLaren, and appeared to be as surprised as everyone else in the paddock when the deal was announced.

Asked yesterday if he was still the Spaniard's manager, Briatore simply replied: "Yes".

Curiouser and Curiouser.