Fernando Alonso joked that there would be "no dinner" on the flight back from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for talent Gabriel Bortoleto after the Brazilian almost crashed into his manager.
The Aston Martin driver has over 20 years of experience in the pinnacle of motorsport, but he is now giving the management side of the sport a go.
The Spaniard has been Bortoleto's corner since his journey into motorsport began, guiding the Brazilian to Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in successive seasons, joining Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri as the only drivers to do so.
Now, with the Brazilian a part of Sauber in his rookie season, both manager and talent will race alongside each other. However, there will be wishful thinking from both of them that they don't want to get as close as they did around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday
During the Grand Prix in Jeddah, Brotoleto was being overtaken by the Racing Bull of Liam Lawson down into the first corner, with the New Zealander making the move on the Brazilian before even making the chicane.
However, right behind Lawson was the Aston Martin of Alonso, with Bortoleto not seeing his manager in his mirrors behind him. The Sauber driver went to move back across to the racing line, but his manager's car was there, almost colliding as they went into the first corner. A last-ditch turn away from Bortoleto and a bit of evasive action from Alonso meant they only just avoided a collision.
Speaking in the paddock to several media sources, including GPblog, after the incident, Alonso started by saying: "I was surprised I nearly crashed, which is the last thing you want, but he didn't see me, so yeah. I had to avoid the corner, and then I gave the place back quickly because I didn't want to be penalised, but nothing changed in the race. We're both struggling, I think, at the moment."
Alonso continued on to say that they hadn't spoken to each other before coming to the paddock, but that they would be on the same flight leaving Jeddah, joking about punishing his talent after the incident."
"We fly together back home now. He has a seat, but maybe no dinner for him," laughed the two-time world champion.
Bortoleto also had a joke about the incident in the paddock too: "I tried to make him a bit scared! I think I didn't see him because I just understood there was one car behind me.
"As soon as the car behind me overtook me, I tried to turn the corner, and Fernando was there. So I just felt a big hit on the lateral side of my car, and I saw Fernando. I was like, 'Hello!' Luckily, no incidents, no damage for anyone," concluded the Brazilian