McLaren quit rumors 'not true' - Alonso

Fernando Alonso has dismissed claims he could stop driving for McLaren during this season as "definitely not true," saying the team is relying on him to outperform the car.

Mark Webber was quoted as telling Belgian news agency Sporza that Alonso is "frustrated" and may not see out the year due to McLaren's lack of competitiveness so far in pre-season. However, despite getting on well with the Australian, when Webber's comments were put to Alonso in China he replied: "No, definitely not true.

"It's normal from the outside that drivers speak and I have read comments from many people. If an ex-driver or motorbike rider [get] a question about Alonso: How do they see the situation? And everyone seems to be quite close to me and I have depression! But it's not like that.

"In Formula 1 I am delivering at my best, I'm more prepared than ever and I perform at my best. The team is not very competitive now; OK, that's true and there is not much we can do from one day to another – it's hard work.

"At the same time, I think that the team is expecting an extra job from me now, an extra result – as we did in Australia where the predictions and simulations said we were last and we were 10th. In China, if the prediction says we are last, hopefully Alonso is in the points."

Alonso says his own record against teammates helps him prove his talent even if he has yet to add to the two world championships he won in 2005 and '06.

"I think it's definitely disappointing not to have more championships. But at the end of the day, in 2007 I was third and then another three second places. So yes, missing more titles, but that is why I'm here and keep competing, because I want to have more trophies. But to have a 15-year career and be considered one of the best for 15 years is probably one of the best things I have in terms of feeling.

"There are drivers, even world champions, who have been beaten quite hard by teammates in one or two years of their career, which is something that has never happened to me – and will not happen."