May 7 (GMM) 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.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version