Alonso determined to leave Renault on a high

F1 world champion Fernando Alonso says he is more determined than ever to beat Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and leave Renault on a high at the end of the season.

"We have been leading all year and we want to finish in the same position," said the Spaniard, who leads Schumacher by two points with only China, Japan and Brazil remaining on the calendar.

"I think the motivation is greater than ever. These are the last three races for me with this fantastic Renault team, and also the last races for Michelin in this era of F1."

This week's Chinese GP in Shanghai will be the first since a controversial Italian race that saw Alonso penalised by stewards for allegedly blocking Ferrari rival Felipe Massa in qualifying.

Alonso has had two weeks rest after missing testing due to a bruised knee. The team have dismissed any suggestion that he has been sidelined from testing due to his impending switch to rivals McLaren.

"The important thing in the next races is to give the maximum to the team," said Alonso, who won in China last year. He has had six victories this season but none since June.

"We always knew that it would be very tight at the end of the championship and I was prepared for this."