Alonso 'surprised' by retirement talks

Herbert, a three-time F1 race winner, suggested that Alonso should retire from the sport, prompting the Spaniard to hit back at the Brit live on air.

Fernando Alonso was forced to sit out of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix after failing to receive medical clearance

Fernando Alonso admitted he was surprised by the "aggressiveness" shown towards him by ex-Formula One driver turned pundit Johnny Herbert. 

Alonso was forced to sit out of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix after failing to receive medical clearance following his terrifying shunt at the season opener in Australia a fortnight ago.

Herbert, a three-time F1 race winner, suggested on

Sky Sports that Alonso should retire from the sport, prompting the Spaniard to hit back at the Brit live on air.  "I'm not going to retire. I'm a world champion," the McLaren driver told Herbert as he walked past. "You ended up as a commentator because you weren't champion."

Alonso said he was surprised by the comments but did not actively seek Herbert out to respond to his claims. "It surprised me a little," the two-time world champion told Marca. "The aggressiveness towards me surprised me, if I'm being honest. 

"I had the bad luck of arriving in the paddock in the morning when they were filming. I was not going to look for him, but..."

Herbert suggested Alonso lacked the motivation to continue in F1, but Alonso said he is just as motivated as ever to be competitive. 

"I am here at this Grand Prix [in Bahrain], with a broken rib and I still want to climb in the car," he added.

"I am here helping the team wherever I can, and I don't know what more motivation you can ask for."