Fernando Alonso attempted to draw a veil over his troubled year with McLaren and his feud with Lewis Hamilton.
The focus was meant to be on the launch of Renault's new car, the R28, for the forthcoming season at the team's Paris communications centre.
Alonso was irritated by questions regarding his relationship with Hamilton, which degenerated off the track as the two-time world champion was not given the status he felt he deserved.
When asked why his fight with Hamilton became so personal, he replied: "I don't think I had a problem with Lewis. Sometimes I read some things, but I'm sure they were exaggerating in Spain.
"Every time he had an interview there were two or three questions with me, and every time I had an interview there were two or three questions about him.
"Anything said was exaggerated the next day, so I am convinced it is better not to say anything.
"We cannot make a big thing of something that is not really a big thing. I have no problems with anyone.
"I don't regret anything from 2007. I had some difficulties, and I am here in 2008 ready to fight again.
"I'm happy and there are no big problems. It seems everybody wants to make something of nothing."
So when asked to give a personal appraisal of Hamilton, it was done grudgingly as he said: "Again, another question about Lewis.
"I don't want to say anything more than I have said all year.
"He is a very talented driver; rookie of the year; surprise of the year, and from what everybody was saying last year, nothing has changed.
"It was his first year in Formula One, and he was fighting for the championship, so perfect."
Alonso, though, spoke of the respect he has received since he returned to the team who made him champion in 2005 and 2006.
That is something he maybe considered was lacking at McLaren, but at the end of the day he ultimately had a shot at winning another championship.
"Last year Renault were struggling to get into Q3, while I was fighting for the title, so I don't regret anything," added the Spaniard.
"I was lucky to be fighting again for a championship, which is what a driver wants.
"Yes, it was a difficult season, but I was lucky. It was a step forward for me because every year, with experience, you improve.
"In the difficulties you learn even more about yourself and you learn quicker, so this year I will be better for sure."
But whether the car will be to Alonso's liking is another matter because after being put through its paces in a test in Valencia last week, it appears there is more work required.
"At the moment we need to close the gap to McLaren and Ferrari because we are a little bit too far behind them," assessed Alonso.
"At the moment there isn't a possibility to fight for podiums or wins. That's the first priority of these winter tests - we need to close that gap.
"Being two or three tenths (of a second) off the pace is not a big problem, but eight tenths or one second, wherever we are at the moment, is too much."
Although Alonso would not admit as much, it is clear he will be granted the number one status he craved at McLaren.
Team boss Flavio Briatore has turned to last year's test driver Nelson Piquet (who has dropped the Junior tag from his name) as Alonso's team-mate.
Alonso's experience will certainly hold sway as Briatore said: "This is my problem.
"I don't want to talk about a number one, two, three, four, five, six or seven.
"It's quite easy. Both drivers are working for the team, working together.
"But one point is very important, and that is Fernando is a world champion, while Nelsinho is the future and he will learn."
Source : www.sportinglife.com
