It should have been the dream ticket, however, the reality was more akin to a nightmare.

Last Friday, Fernando Alonso and McLaren announced that they were to part company, both parties (publicly) agreeing that a clean divorce was best for all concerned, even though there are many who still believe that the Spaniard was sacked as McLaren attempts to recover from its very own Annus Horribilis.

The in-fighting, treachery and back-stabbing, not to mention the spy saga, bore more resemblance to a tacky soap opera than the world's (supposedly) most glamorous sport.

However, talking to the official Formula One website (F1.com) Alonso invokes memories of Edith Piaf when he claims 'je ne regrette rien'.

"This year I had the opportunity to win the championship again, so from that point of view the switch was a good decision," said the Spaniard. "The team did a fantastic job to have a competitive car so I was able to fight until the last race and finished only one point behind the champion. So in that respect I think it has been a very positive season.

"Outside the car for sure we had some ups and downs," he admitted, in a masterpiece of understatement, "better moments and worse moments, but I think this happens in every job.

"I will remember this year for my four victories I had in important places, where I had not won before, like Monza, and Monaco again for a second time."

Though he has yet to find a berth for next season, with Red Bull and Renault having both offered multi-year deals which he has, thus far, refused to accept, clearly waiting for a vacancy at Ferrari in 2009, Alonso looks ahead to 2008 with confidence.

"Hopefully for next year I've learnt some lessons and I'll try again," he said. "For every driver, when we lose a championship we start thinking about why we lost. But we lost, so there is nothing more we can do. It's history. The future is the place where you can change things, and the future already has begun.

"Looking back over my shoulder I feel quite comfortable," he added.