Fernando Alonso said he "reacted emotionally" after the European Grand Prix when he complained that the race had been "manipulated".
Ferrari star now admits safety car incident was merely "unlucky"
Fernando Alonso said he "reacted emotionally" after the European Grand Prix when he complained that the race had been "manipulated".
The Spaniard's outburst came in the aftermath of Sunday's race in Valencia, where he finished eighth after qualifying fourth.
Running third close behind Lewis Hamilton in the early laps, Alonso's race was undone when the safety car appeared following Mark Webber's spectacular accident.
Although his Ferrari filed in behind the safety car, Hamilton passed it - allowing him to reach the pits quicker and retain his second place.
Alonso, meanwhile, dropped to 10th following his stop.
The McLaren driver was eventually handed a drive-through penalty for the indiscretion but still managed to hold on to his second place behind race winner Sebastian Vettel.
With Hamilton also managing to increase his world championship lead over team-mate Jenson Button to six points, Alonso now lies fifth in the standings 29 points behind.
Calmer
Although Alonso has not apologised for his outburst, which appeared to question the integrity of race director Charlie Whiting and his stewards, he has now toned his view of events down.
The double world champion said: "We were particularly unlucky in terms of the timing of when the safety car appeared on track.
"It would have only needed a few seconds more or less to totally change our race.
"It does not achieve much going over the events that followed on, but obviously, in the clear light of day, I am much calmer than I was in the moments immediately following the race.
"At the time, I reacted emotionally and in that situation it is all too easy to adopt a tone and say things that can be interpreted wrongly, giving rise to suspicions, something which I had no intention of doing.
"Sure, I understand the stewards have a difficult job to do and they have to take decisions that are not easy.
"What I meant was that those drivers who, like us, respected the regulations, unfortunately in this situation, suffered much more than those who broke them, even though they were given a penalty."
Alonso also denied that any of his anger had been directed at old rival Hamilton.
"I am not referring to any of the drivers in particular," he added in his blog on Ferrari's official website.
"It's a general matter and I think we should talk about it together in a calm way to ensure that things like this do not happen again.
"I was pleased to hear the FIA has reacted promptly, calling an extraordinary meeting of the Sporting Working Group.
"I am confident, certain even, all the points up for discussion will be cleared up in a comprehensive fashion."
Positive
Ferrari were hoping that upgrades to their F10 chassis would help them get their season back on track last weekend.
Alonso added that he was now focusing on Hamilton's home race, the British Grand Prix, next Sunday.
"On Sunday evening I was very angry about everything that happened, but now that anger has been transformed into positive energy driving a desire to fight back," he said.
"Right from yesterday morning my mind was already focused on the next grand prix at Silverstone.
"There we will try and channel all that accumulated energy into the car to try and make up for what escaped us, for one reason or another, in Valencia."
