  In this manuscript, results of a component-level analysis with Monte Carlo
simulations are presented, that aid the interpretation of recent ALICE results
on the azimuthal correlation distribution of prompt D mesons with charged
hadrons in pp and p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Parton-level contributions and fragmentation properties are evaluated. Charm
and beauty contributions are compared in order to identify the observables that
serve as sensitive probes of the production and hadronization of heavy quarks.
