Oct.7 (GMM) So furious was reigning world champion Fernando Alonso after qualifying fourth in Shanghai on Saturday that he kicked down a door in McLaren's circuit offices.

Mostly Spanish media sources cited wild conspiracy theories including doctored tyre pressures and temperatures for the McLaren driver, who nonetheless kept his hopes alive for the world championship by finishing second on Sunday while his British teammate Lewis Hamilton retired.

The 26-year-old, however, verbally wrote off his championship chances following qualifying before requiring a carpenter to be called to repair the damage he caused to a room at the Shanghai circuit.

Alonso also used a different helmet for the penultimate grand prix, after smashing his qualifying-spec lid on the floor of the garage on Saturday.