The Renault driver shrugged off a survey, published this week by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), that saw Ferrari's Michael Schumacher register four times as many votes in a popularity poll.

"I don't want to be popular at all. I only want to drive the car and to win," the Spaniard said in Shanghai yesterday ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend.

The 25-year-old is just two points clear of Schumacher, chasing an eighth championship before he heads off into retirement, in the title battle with three races remaining.

While professing indifference about his popularity, Alonso still cared plenty about a penalty imposed by stewards in Italy three weeks ago that triggered angry claims that the fight for the championship was being manipulated against him.

He made it clear that he could never forgive or forget what happened in Monza.

Demoted from fifth to 10th on the grid by stewards who ruled he had impeded Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying, Alonso said prior to the race that he no longer considered Formula One a sport and saw no reason to change that opinion in Shanghai.

"I think the same (as before)," he said. "When I say something it is because I think that, not because I am angry or whatever. I feel that, many people feel that, but nobody says it. Formula One is my job, my life, and I enjoy so much driving the car. But I still think the same.

"In the other categories there is sport and here there is a little bit of everything," he added.

"It's a big show, for everybody. A lot of TV cover, a lot of money involved in Formula One, TV rights and sponsors and everything and the driver is part of the show. There are always things happening that don't happen in the other categories of motorsport."

The Spaniard, sounding relaxed and sporting a new mustachioed look, said he would not let the incident distract him in the title battle.

"I will put it out of my head for this race and the rest of the championship," he said. "But I will not put out of my head in my career or my life or ever."

Alonso had told a Spanish radio station that the German "is the man with the most sanctions and the most unsporting driver in the history of F1."

Schumacher steered away from any controversy when asked to comment Thursday on Alonso's remarks.

"I don't think I have to react on it," the German said frostily without elaborating any further.

Alonso said Thursday he had no intention of insulting Schumacher in his radio remarks.

"Michael still has three races to go. We will talk about him when he retires and at the moment he is still an F1 driver," Alonso said.

Both Schumacher and Alonso are aware of recent history - not only the last six races but also the first two Chinese races.

Schumacher has suffered from spins, freak crashes and tire blowouts at the state-of-the-art 5.451-km Shanghai International Circuit. He came 12th in 2004 and finished dead last in 2005.

"It shouldn't be anything like that this year," Schumacher said. "I was unfortunate the first year. Last year we were completely out of it with our tires.

"With what we have seen so far this year, there is no reason why we shouldn't be competitive."