Fernando Alonso has said that he is "99%" sure he will be back at the cockpit of his McLaren in China.
Sidelined with chest injuries in Bahrain, the Spaniard angrily rejected the advice of pundit Johnny Herbert to seize the opportunity and hang up his helmet for good.
Asked if he was surprised by former driver Herbert's comments, Alonso told Marca: "A little bit. I was surprised by the aggressiveness towards me."
"[Herbert] had the luck that he was recording live when I arrived [at the circuit] in the morning," said Alonso, referring to his gatecrashing of British television Sky to confront the 51-year-old former Sauber driver.
Alonso had told Herbert that he has no intention of retiring.
"Better, better every day," he told Marca when asked how his ribs are now.
Stoffel Vandoorne, standing in for Alonso in Bahrain, finished tenth while teammate Jenson Button placed 20th.
