Despite the fact that he had completed 119 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya - more miles than he completed in his opening three days of testing last year, sections of the media, mainly Spanish, are still pushing the spaniard as to whether he is considering quitting McLaren.

However, the two-time world champion was having none of it, insisting that he is with the Woking team for the duration.

"I have a contract for three years," he insisted. "I'm not thinking about anything else. This is a very important year for us.

"I'm surprised by the rumours," he sighed. "All week there have been some rumours, perhaps when there are too many weeks or months without action on the track there is a dangerous tendency to be creative on the news.

"It's good now we are now back on track and hopefully there will be no more rumours," he added.

"Sitting here or in the factory, or even taking the plane to Australia, the ambition will be very high," he continued, "because I'm not here just to travel around the world and jump in the car to have some fun on Sunday, I'm here to win. I think all 22 drivers want the same, I am no different.

"There is no crystal ball in Formula One where you can bet and know more or less which direction the year will go after the first day of testing. We need to wait until Australia when we are all in the same conditions with super-soft tyres and low fuel on the same track conditions and even then, we need to wait two or three races to make sure how the year will turn."