Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso is unimpressed with the paddock rumour mill that he could leave Aston Martin for Red Bull at the end of the season.
In the wake of last weekend's Mexican Grand Prix, rumours emerged that the 42-year-old could replace the battling Sergio Perez.
In response, Alonso dismissed the suggestions as "normal paddock rumours from people who try to make fun of it and gain some followers".
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"I will make sure there are consequences," he added.
Speaking ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Alonso confessed he was not enjoying the added attention.
"You are all journalists, professional people who have been in F1 for many years, and you gained your respect, and this is how it should be," he said.
"The rumours are coming from people who are not in this room, they are just there to make fun. And it is not funny when they play with anything."
Alonso is contracted to Aston Martin until the end of 2024 after replacing Sebastian Vettel in the team's driver lineup this season.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner previously echoed the need for Perez to step up but said it is the team's intention for Perez to partner with triple-world champion Max Verstappen next year.
Alonso suspected that the rumours were circulated to disrupt Aston Martin, who are weathering a performance slump.
The Spaniard opened the season with six podium finishes in the first eight races as Aston Martin rubbed shoulders with heavyweight teams Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari.
However, the team's performance has fallen away since the sport's summer break.
Forced to retire his car in the last two races, Alonso has slipped from third in the drivers' standings to fifth and is at risk of sliding further down the order with three races remaining.
That coincided with Aston Martin slumping from third to fifth in the constructors' championship.
"We are not as competitive as we wanted and we all try to get to our best level, which is not the one we are showing now," Alonso said.
"We are analysing some of the upgrades we brought lately. Here in Brazil, we have a sprint format and maybe it is a more traditional weekend for us not experimenting as much as the last two.
"Obviously we are not happy, (team principal) Mike (Krack) is not happy, no one is happy with the current form.
"But at the same time, as I said a few races ago, this team was 250 people two years ago and now we are in this transition to be hopefully a contender for the future — 800 people, new factory, seven podiums this year, 200 points more than last year — these kinds of things which are not the current form.
"We should not be happy but we cannot be too dramatic about the situation when this 2023 campaign has been a super season for us."
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