Fernando Alonso makes 'dinner' quip after 'scared' Gabriel Bortoleto miss

Fernando Alonso has joked there would be "no dinner" for Gabriel Bortoleto on their journey home from Saudi Arabia following a near-miss at Turn 1.

On lap 25 as Liam Lawson's Racing Bulls car passed Bortoleto, he moved to the right-hand side of the track, trying to open up the exit of the first chicane. 

However, Bortoleto's manager Alonso was in that space in the Aston Martin and was inadvertently squeezed into the wall. 

Fortunately both were able to continue without damage as Alonso finished 11th as he awaits his first points, whilst F2 champion Bortoleto was 18th and the last classified finisher on a weekend he struggled after missing FP2 due to a chassis change after a fuel leak. 

Reflecting on the near-miss, Alonso quipped his charge would not be fed on the flight home from Jeddah.

"I was surprised and nearly crashed, which is the last thing you want, but he didn't see me," the two-time world champion to media including RacingNews365.

"I had to avoid the corner and then have the position back [to Bortoleto] quickly because I didn't want a penalty, but nothing changed in the race, we were both struggling. 

"We are flying back together home, but maybe there will be no dinner for him."

As for Bortoleto, he also joked he tried to make Alonso "scared."

"Yeah, I tried to make him a bit scared, no, I'm joking," Bortoleto explained when questioned about the incident by RacingNews365. 

"I didn't see him because I understood that there was one car behind me, and as soon at that car overtook me, I tried to open the corner, and Fernando was there.

"I felt a big hit on the lateral side of the car, and saw Fernando and said: 'Hello!', but luckily there was no damage for anyone."

Check out the incident below!