Alonso upbeat despite McLaren taking charge

After just four of this year's 19 races in the Formula One world championship, the sport's keenest fans are cooing with satisfaction and revelling in the thrills of an entirely unpredictable season.

The only constant in the season-opening four 'flyaway' races outside Europe in Bahrain, Australia, Malaysia and China has been change -- changing race winners, dominant teams and weather conditions.

All of which led, in Sunday's dramatic and rain-hit Chinese Grand Prix, to McLaren taking over on top of the constructors' championship following Jenson Button's triumph ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.