BACK TO RENAULT?: Alonso's former boss Flavio Briatore has offered the Spaniard a job at his former team Renault, if he decides to quit McLaren. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Just days after Lewis Hamilton told McLaren officials he did not want Fernando Alonso as his teammate next season, Alonso has returned fire.

The double world champion said he would be 'delighted' if he were not in the same team as the British rookie next year.

The rise of Hamilton, who could dethrone Alonso in this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, has unsettled a champion who had hoped to be the undisputed No 1 at McLaren.

Hamilton, who has a 12-point lead on 107 to Alonso's 95, said in Japan at the weekend that he would rather see Alonso in a Ferrari than a McLaren next season.

On Monday, Alonso told Spain's Cadena Ser radio station: 'I'd be delighted not to have him (Hamilton) alongside.

' If we are not together next year and I have a competitive car, fine. If we have to continue together, then we'll have another good fight.'

The Spaniard, 26, also dismissed reports that he could be sitting out the next season.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had suggested that might be the case if McLaren decided not to allow Alonso to drive but kept him on the payroll.

It is not an option that Alonso entertains. 'That's not in my plans. I want to race, I'm 100 per cent sure,' he declared.

He definitely will not be in a Ferrari, after the Italian team ruled out that possibility. Ferrari boss Jean Todt told reporters there was 'zero per cent' of that happening because Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa have contracts.

However, Alonso can return to Renault, where he won his two world titles. Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has offered the driver a spot on his team once he leaves McLaren.

He told Planet-F1.com: 'I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren, we would be pleased to have him back. It would be stupid to deny that.''

Briatore is convinced Alonso would not have quit Renault if he had been aware he would receive the same treatment as a rookie.

'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,' Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport.

'If you hire a world champion, then you must give him the No1 status.'

The Italian claims Alonso would be afforded that prestige if he rejoined Renault. McLaren, on the other hand, award both their drivers equal status.

The relationship between Hamilton and Alonso began to deteriorate at the Monaco GP back in May, when Hamilton hinted that McLaren had handed the victory to his teammate.

One race later and it was Hamilton who was winning, sparking comments from Alonso that he was unhappy at McLaren and felt he deserved to be No1.

Their feud grew worse with the two drivers clashing at the Belgium GP, where Hamilton claimed Alonso tried to take him off the track.

A week later and the McLaren rookie was slamming Alonso for not bothering to turn up to support McLaren in the spy scandal.

The Spaniard was asked to attend the Paris meeting called by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), motorsport's world- controlling body. But he refused, even though it was one of his e-mail messages that implicated his own team.

While Hamilton's future at McLaren is assured, team boss Ron Dennis said last week that no contractual discussions would take place until after the end of the season with either of his drivers.

REUTERS