The war of words between McLaren's drivers continues as Fernando Alonso reveals that he would be happy if he didn't have Lewis Hamilton as a teammate next season, though the wording - "I'd be delighted if I didn't carry on with Hamilton" - could mean something else entirely. (Ooh err missus!)

Speaking to the Spanish radio station SER, the World Champion said: "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.

Dismissing talk of him taking a sabbatical, Alonso said: "It hasn't entered into my plans not to race next year.

"I don't have any news about Ferrari," he added, even though Jean Todt has said that there's "zero per cent" chance of the Spaniard going to Maranello - at least whilst he's in charge. "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."

Speaking at the weekend, World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, admitted that he'd like to see the Spaniard move elsewhere.

"I'd much rather it were Fernando at Ferrari and me at McLaren," said the Englishman.

Meanwhile, Renault boss Flavio Briatore, has told Alonso that there will be a place for him with his old team: "I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren we would be pleased to have him back," the Italian told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Briatore is also critical of the way McLaren has handled matters.

"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," he said. "If you hire a world champion, then you must give him the number one status."

Coming soon.... Hamilton criticises the World Champion's mono-brow.