Hamilton's rival smashes door

After Hamilton, 22, took pole position for this morning's Chinese Grand Prix, where he was aiming to be the first rookie and youngest ever driver to become world champion, the Spaniard furiously hit out at his team boss Ron Dennis and the Formula One authorities.

Alonso, who looks set to quit the Woking outfit after the last race in Brazil in two weeks, accused Dennis of creating the off-track "scandals" with "his lies" and the team of a lack of respect.

The reigning world champion could finish only fourth in qualifying and vented his frustration by slamming his helmet into the ground at the back of the garage.

He then marched across the paddock and inflicted so much damage with boot and fist on a toilet door in the team's hospitality suite that it had to be repaired.

The two-time world champion, who trailed Hamilton by 12 points with two races left, said: "I'm always angry when I'm not in a good position and don't perform as well as I can. I am frustrated but I'm not thinking of this championship any more, it has been decided off the track."

Alonso, 26, believes stewards should have punished Hamilton for his driving behind the safety car in Japan last weekend after Red Bull's Mark Webber and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel had collided while following the McLaren.

Hamilton was cleared by officials in Shanghai on Friday night but had to endure the wrath of his fellow drivers in their pre-race meeting.

Alonso said: "You go there to hear what the officials say. Twenty-one drivers have an opinion and the officials another. It's like talking to a wall."

But Alonso saved his most vitriolic outburst for Dennis and the perceived lack of respect shown to him after he joined the Woking outfit following his two title triumphs with Renault, again questioning whether he was receiving equal treatment.

"When I crossed the line I was very happy with the lap and on the radio they told me I was fourth and I was surprised because I thought I was nearly at the maximum," he said. "I said on the radio this is a good lap and I expected to be fighting for pole, then I realised I was still fourth with an even bigger gap to pole.

"I was expecting a lot more from the team. It's better to be silent than to lie — and that's something he [Dennis] should do more often. Many of the scandals McLaren have been involved in off the track this year have been created by his things."