Spy row over, driver row reignites in Japan
The latest headline doing the rounds is that his teammate and championship rival Lewis Hamilton thinks McLaren respects him more near the end of a tumultuous season in which loyalties were tested and exposed.
"Eventually I earned more respect from the team," the Briton told reporters on the scene of the Japanese grand prix at Fuji.
"I think they just know where their money lies."
Hamilton said he cannot understand why Alonso, a double world champion, would ask McLaren for favorable treatment over him, but vowed to fight psychological fire with fire.
"It is just not something I have done at any team: asking for better equipment.
"I've got to do the job starting on Friday morning — be faster than him in free practice because the mental effect starts then," he added.
"If I am ahead of him everything starts churning up in his mind."
Hamilton had to admit, however, that the "stress" of his debut season had come as a surprise.
Sensing that Alonso may now have the upper hand, most betting agencies – such as Ladbrokes – are tipping that the Spaniard (2-1) is twice more likely than Hamilton (4-1) to win in Japan.
"All the politics — just stress, so much stress. It was not what I expected," Hamilton told reporters in the McLaren motor home.
"It would be gutting to lose it now, so close to the end."
Alonso, meanwhile, told Spanish reporters that much of what has been written about him is either "wrong" or "lies".
"I will not answer every day what they have been saying about me," he said. "Maybe I do not have as much free time, but no matter what I say, people make up their own minds."
He did not, however, want to specifically address Hamilton's comments, including the rookie's warning that he might be more aggressive at turn one on Sunday.
"Whether I like it or not, so much is written about me," the 26-year-old told the Spanish newspaper Diario As.
"It is not necessary to always talk. I think it is incredible what has been said about me in the last fifteen days. I prefer to do my talking on the track."