Fernando Alonso has revealed that Michael Schumacher suspected he deliberately held up the German during qualifying in Melbourne.
With their helmets on and Alonso still in the cockpit of his Ferrari, the pair had been spotted in animated discussion in Albert Park’s ’parc ferme’ area.
Schumacher, formerly a five-time champion with Ferrari, explained to reporters that he had asked the Spaniard "whether the team had told him (he was on a flying lap) and he said no."
In an interview with Germany’s spox.com, Alonso adds: "Yes, he thought I had held him up intentionally on his fast lap. But that’s nonsense.
"I could not see him in the mirrors and there was no info on the radio. So I was only able to move over after he was already there."
Also in the wake of the Australian GP, many of Alonso’s Spanish supporters were scathing of Ferrari’s decision not to move aside Felipe Massa so that the championship leader could challenge Robert Kubica for second place.
Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that team orders are no longer in the team’s armoury, and Alonso told Spain’s El Pais newspaper that he did not want to upset his boss.
"If it was another driver I would have tried, but it’s difficult to fight with your teammate," he said. "I thought of the boss and did nothing strange."