Jaime Alguersuari has offered a less than flattering opinion about the personality of his fellow Spaniard and F1 driver Fernando Alonso.

“He is cold (frio), very cold,” said 20-year-old Alguersuari, the youngest driver on the grid who races with the second Red Bull team, Toro Rosso.

“He is a man of few words,” he is quoted as saying by Dir Emotions.  “I have no relationship with him.”

Alguersuari also described the Ferrari driver and double world champion as “a great” F1 racer.

Alonso, 29, recently moved to clarify some misperceptions by revealing that when people actually meet him, they often remark that he is “nicer” than his media image.

The German-language spox.com compared Alonso’s apparent win-at-all-costs attitude with that of Michael Schumacher.

“In the media we read again and again things about ourselves that are not right,” said the Spaniard.

“People are making judgements from the outside, but that’s the business.”

Asked to clarify the misperceptions, Alonso said: “I am very calm and relaxed, even romantic.  Actually, I’m a normal guy.

“A little bit shy, but when everything’s right, that’s when the Spaniard in me comes out,” he laughed.

In Singapore last weekend, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali agreed that Alonso is “cool and calm and sometimes difficult”.

And after back-to-back victories from pole, Alonso says he is on the top of his game.

“The F1 championship is very long compared to other sports so you can’t be completely fit, focused, motivated 100 per cent of the time.

“But now, in this part of the championship, I’m at a peak,” he is quoted in the Spanish press.

Now considered a favourite for the 2010 world championship, Mark Webber has revealed he almost quit formula one several years ago.

Having impressed at Minardi and Jaguar, the Australian was signed for 2005 by grandee Williams, but the famous British team had concurrently begun its slide from the sport’s pinnacle.

“I got pretty low during my time with Williams,” admitted the 34-year-old, who subsequently switched to Red Bull, where he is now mere points from leading the drivers’ standings from Lewis Hamilton.

“I think most people at this level have similar levels of talent and you have to be the one who wants it the most.  There was a stage when I didn’t,” said Webber.

He said his struggle with Williams went beyond a normal period of feeling burned out.

“I think a lot of people may want to throw the towel in at times,” said Webber.  “But I considered it during my Williams days.  That was very tough.

“I lost my motivation for about six months,” he explained.  “I mean it is not like you are in other sports, where you can take some time off, maybe pick and choose your events.”

Even in 2010, winning more grands prix than any of his highly rated competitors like Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and teammate Sebastian Vettel, the Herald Sun newspaper said Webber is still enduring a tough time with pain from the leg he badly broke in late 2008.

“I have had a few niggles and dramas, but I won’t go into it too much,” he confirmed.  “No, it is fine.”

Webber is signed up with Red Bull for the 2011 season, insisting he does not want to commit further in case the “fire” burns out.

“If I win that world championship, well, that may do me.  I’d be a very content man.”