Michael Schumacher has apologised to Rubens Barrichello after almost pushing him into the pit wall in Budapest.
Seven-time world champion admits he deserved to be punished
Michael Schumacher has apologised to Rubens Barrichello after almost pushing him into the pit wall during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion moved across to stop Barrichello from overtaking him in the closing stages of Sunday's race.
The Brazilian was quick to hit out at his former Ferrari team-mate, branding it a "go-kart manoeuvre" that saw him come within millimetres of hitting the concrete wall down the start-finish straight.
Schumacher was later punished by race stewards, who hit him with a 10-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 29.
Severe manoeuvre
Now the German has issued an apology on his website and admitted he went too far across attempting to protect his position.
"Yesterday, straight after the race, I was still in the heat of the moment, but after seeing the scene against Rubens again, I have got to say that the stewards are right with their judgment: the manoeuvre against him was too severe," he said.
"I obviously wanted to make it difficult for him to overtake me and I also showed him clearly that I did not want to let him past, but obviously I did not want to endanger him with my manoeuvre. If he feels this way, then sorry, that was not my intention."
Schumacher eventually finished 11th in Budapest, leaving him in ninth position in the drivers' standings.
