Nico Hulkenberg has spoken again about the clash with Felipe Massa during last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, and felt on reflection that he was responsible.
Hulkenberg retired as a result of contact at turn three when the Sahara Force India driver appeared to turn in on Massa’s Williams, who was exiting the pits following his first stop of the afternoon.
The German initially was disappointed to have been handed a three-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, but now accepts the decision following him reviewing the incident.
“I looked at the video footage and I probably should have given him a bit more room, because he was on the inside and I had some space on the right,” said Hulkenberg to reporters in Japan.
“But visibility is poor when you are alongside each other and I thought I was ahead enough, but I wasn’t clearly. So we take a penalty here, but it is behind and we will make the best of it.”
Massa revealed that Hulkenberg had sent a text message to the Brazilian to apologise for the clash that happened on lap thirteen.
“He wrote me an SMS to apologise, which was nice to be honest,” said Massa. “I have no problem, we were fighting and maybe he was too optimistic to close the door like that. But it is nice to have the message.”