Alonso says he needed McLaren challenge

Fernando Alonso has justified his surprising decision to move to McLaren by saying he needed a fresh challenge after taking the title with Renault last year

Less than two months after the season ended, Alonso announced he will leave the Renault team to drive for McLaren in 2007, when his current contract with the French outfit expires.

The Spanish driver said his main motivation was finding a new challenge.

"This has been my team for five years, and Renault made me World Champion at a very young age," said Alonso. "On the other side, when I arrived in Formula One 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."

Alonso, however, has played down suggestions that his announcement will have any influence on his performance throughout the season.

"Not at all. Formula One 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."