Hamilton frowns on Alonso's pit entry passing

A new war of words between former bitter McLaren teammates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton is threatening to break out.

It is three years since the pair clashed so memorably at the British team, and two years since the ugly racist incident during winter testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.

It is at Barcelona that Hamilton, 25, has chosen to respond to local hero Alonso's claim that the 2008 world champion is now on the verge of receiving penalties by the stewards.

The Spaniard said last week that some of Hamilton's driving this year has been "punishable", adding that "if he does something in the next race, however little, there will be penalties".

Hamilton has responded by pointing to Alonso's move three weeks ago in China, when his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa ended up on the grass in the Shanghai pitlane.

"I've never done that, and it's definitely not in my nature to do what he did," the Briton told PA Sport.

"That could have turned out really badly for Felipe. He could have been out of the race."

The ill feeling towards Hamilton was back on display in Barcelona this weekend, with a poster of the Briton slashed across the face in a circuit access tunnel.

"People say I'm aggressive, but I don't know why. I just drive with the most passion. I'm more passionate than aggressive," he said.