Alonso: No regrets over Ferrari exit yet

The Spaniard left the Maranello squad after five years to join McLaren for 2015.

But while the British squad is now struggling at the back of the grid, Ferrari won the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Alonso, however, says it is too early to think Ferrari is now a position to challenge for the title and consider his decision to leave was a mistake.

"It's a question that I expected, obviously, because with Ferrari winning the second race and me out in Q2 is a perfect moment to ask," said Alonso on Thursday in China.

"But I've been with Ferrari for five years and I finished second three times and I didn't want to finish second a fourth time, so if they win the championship at the end of the year maybe I'll have a different opinion.

"If they finish second, or if they finish third, then I'm happy with the decision.

"There were years when we started very well at Ferrari, winning here in 2013 for example, but when it counts is in November and in November we never won, so I want to win in November, so we'll see."

McLaren not lost

Although McLaren has struggled since its move to Honda engines, Alonso is confident that it is just a matter of time before the team is competitive.

The two-time champion denied the team has lost its way, and insisted there is no timeline set for McLaren's resurgence.

"There is no date, or a grand prix where we think from there on we will competitive," he said.

"And also we are not asking them [Honda]  when will this happen.

"We know they are putting all the effort into the project, all the resources they have, all the technical people they have. It's just a question of time.

"As I said, being behind in testing is a high price to pay now in the first races because there is a learning process but the step forwards that we are doing are quite positive and we are going in the right direction because sometimes you can get lost when you are so far behind, but I don't think we are lost.

"It's a question of time when we will be competitive, and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later."