Schumacher says sorry to Barrichello

Michael Schumacher has apologised to former team-mate Rubens Barrichello after almost pushing him into the wall defending his position in the Hungarian Grand Prix yesterday.

Barrichello overtook Schumacher’s Mercedes on the main straight on the 66th lap, with Schumacher forcing the Brazilian off the road and inches away from the pit wall before finally conceding 10th place.

Race stewards ruled that Schumacher’s move was illegal, and he has been hit with a 10-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 29.

Schumacher responded today by issuing an apology on his website.

“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 finished 11th in the race, the latest disappointing result in his underwhelming comeback season.

The seven-time world champion has had two fourth-place finishes this season, in Barcelona and Istanbul, but has never been in contention for a race win, and is ninth in the drivers’ standings.