Alonso insult "below belt", says Schumacher manager

BERLIN, Sep 13 (Reuters) Michael Schumacher's manager has accused Fernando Alonso of ''pitiful behaviour'' after the Formula One world champion described the German ace as the least sporting driver of all time.

Bild newspaper quoted Willi Weber today as saying that Alonso's comment to Spain's Radio Marca was an ''unbelievable insult, totally below the belt.'' ''I regard Alonso as a brilliant driver, but his behaviour right now is just pitiful. Michael will give him a suitable answer on the track,'' Weber said.

The remarks will ensure an even more spirited end to the 2006 championship, with Renault's Alonso two points clear of Ferrari's Schumacher going into the final three races. Schumacher is then to retire from the sport.

Alonso was incensed after he was demoted five places to 10th on Sunday's grid in Monza for impeding the qualifying lap of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

Schumacher won at Monza while Alonso pulled over with a blown engine 10 laps from the end.

The Spaniard later attacked what he saw as institutional bias in favour of Schumacher and Ferrari, suggesting on Sunday that there was a conspiracy to hand Schumacher an eighth title.

Alonso told Radio Marca that Schumacher was ''the most unsporting driver with the largest number of sanctions in the history of Formula One.'' Weber, who has represented the seven times world champion since 1988, demanded an apology from Alonso for what he called ''unfair and cheap'' remarks.

REUTERS AY VA BST1540