Tension mounts between Hamilton and Alonso

Championship-leading F1 rookie Lewis Hamilton has admitted his stunning success was creating some tension between him and McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso.

'I doubt he expected me to do as well as I am but I don't know that's why he's saying what he's saying,' Hamilton said when asked about a recent suggestion by Alonso that the team favored the Briton.

'He's the two-time world champion but he hasn't been really challenged by someone as close as me and as good a friend off the track, so it is a very difficult situation,' added the 22-year-old.

Alonso told Spain's Cadena Ser radio this week that he was uneasy with the euphoria surrounding Hamilton at the team and felt the Briton, who has reached the podium in all six of his starts, was receiving more support.