Fernando Alonso doesn't believe his three seasons of frustration at McLaren-Honda have harmed his reputation but conceded the ill-fated 'project' has damaged his career.
Alonso opted to leave Ferrari at the end of 2014 in the expectation that the reforged alliance of McLaren and Honda would emerge as Mercedes' first bona fide challengers.
It hasn't, to say the least, worked out that way; while Ferrari have returned to the front this season to rival Mercedes, McLaren have endured three years of misery during which they have failed to score a single podium finish.
"The lack of victories hurts the career, the motivation and happiness," Alonso told Sky F1. "That's been the biggest loss of the last couple of years."
But although Alonso's career choices are open to question, his reputation has arguably never been so positive, both within the paddock and with the public at large.
Time after time, Alonso has worked wonders to disguise the depth of his machinery's failings, while the Spaniard won a new army of admirers in North America after impressing during his intrepid Indy 500 debut.
The fact remains, however, that Alonso's last title win is already over a decade old and his most recent win in F1 occurred four years ago.
"From 2013 I didn't have victories, so it's not only the last three years. That's been the frustrating thing," he added.
"But at the same time l look at other drivers, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, even Max Verstappen, who are super talented guys, and they have two or three podiums in the last couple of years.
"It is a very strong domination from Mercedes, and this year from Ferrari and Mercedes, so all the other drivers are in the same situation."
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