> Alonso 'comfortable' with McLaren spell

Fernando Alonso says he feels “quite comfortable” looking back at his single season at McLaren – but says he has learnt lessons he will put into practice next year when he attempts to reclaim his world championship crown.

The Spaniard ended his tumultuous spell with the British team just a year into his three-year deal last week and is reportedly close to agreeing an immediate return to Renault.

Despite high hopes at the start of the year that the relationship would lead to further glory for the double world champion, relations between the Spaniard and McLaren, in particular boss Ron Dennis, turned increasingly bitter amid claims from Alonso that he didn’t feel he was receiving enough support.

Against such a backdrop of tension, the 26-year-old still only missed out on winning a third straight world title by a single point.

Looking back on his failed title bid, he insists he has already put his 2007 disappointments behind him and is now focused on learning from this year’s lessons.

“For every driver, when we lose a championship we start thinking about why we lost,” he said in an interview with Formula 1’s official website.

“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.

“Hopefully for next year I’ve learnt some lessons and I’ll try again.”

However despite his McLaren career not working out as planned, he insists it was still the right decision to join the team when he did.

He points out that it gave him a race-winning car, while Renault slipped back into the midfield pack.

“This year I had the opportunity to win the championship again, so from that point of view the switch (from Renault) was a good decision,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

Source: itv-f1