Wednesday 23 July at 14:56 : Now deep into the 2008 season, former double world champion Fernando Alonso has struck the lowest point since his days as a backmarker in 2001.

That is the claim of the ultra-partisan Spanish press, who after last Sunday's Hockenheim race said the 26-year-old has "returned to the Minardi days".

Alonso had a dreadful run in the German grand prix from fifth on the grid to just eleventh at the flag, while his teammate Nelson Piquet threw off his usual critics to deliver Renault's first podium of the season.

Afterwards, team boss Flavio Briatore's official post-race statement counted 62 words, and not a single one in reference to Alonso, who returned to the French team this year from McLaren.

The Spanish newspaper Diario AS said Briatore actually uttered critical words about Alonso "for the first time in a long time" following Hockenheim.

Reportedly, in the Italian press, Briatore said he had "not liked anything" about the Spaniard's race in Germany, amid speculation Alonso is coming under pressure from Renault to commit to the team also in 2009.

It is rumoured that Alonso is considering switching teams at the end of the season, while Renault want to know his decision no later than September.

Alonso also came in for some rare Spanish criticism after Hockenheim, when he did not publicly congratulate Piquet for his maiden podium triumph.

Respected El Pais journalist Manel Serras said Alonso actually did congratulate the Brazilian rookie, "if not directly, then by SMS".

"But it is obvious that defeats like that hurt him a lot. He does not want to lose anything to anybody," Serras added.