The two-times world champion raised eyebrows with an unorthodox and highly aggressive overtaking manoeuvre on Massa at the entrance to the pit-lane in Shanghai two weeks ago, which cost the Brazilian a few places as he then had to wait while Alonso's tyres were changed.

That move came after two frustrating races in which Alonso had got stuck behind his team-mate's slower car without managing to find a way past.

Although both drivers have bitten their tongues, Alonso has a track record of expecting preferential treatment at his teams. It was one of the reasons he fell out with the management at McLaren during his ill-fated season there alongside Hamilton in 2007.

The Spaniard, though, insists all is well at Ferrari. "Felipe and I are complementary," said Alonso, who added he would "definitely" repeat the pit-lane pass if the opportunity arose again.

"Sometimes I am missing something in the corners he has, sometimes I am faster in some sections. Learning from each other is a secret. Who could create problems? Button and Hamilton."

Alonso, who signed for Ferrari last winter, also said he was relieved to be settling in without the imposing shadow of Michael Schumacher hanging over him. The German, who won five of his seven world titles with Ferrari, quit his consultant's role with the Italian team to make a comeback with Mercedes this year at the age of 41.

"Now, maybe, we're a little freer," Alonso said of life at Ferrari.

Button, meanwhile, will on Tuesday receive the freedom of his hometown of Frome in Somerset.