Nico Rosberg is hopeful that fans can move on from his clash with team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix after issuing a public apology.
The German was booed on the podium for the clash which the majority blamed him for, though he refused to accept blame immediately.
He has now admitted it was a “judgement of error” and took the time during a team meeting on Friday to apologise to the team, Hamilton and F1 fans.
“In the days since the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what happened during the race and discussing it with the team,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
“I have already expressed my regret about the incident but, after meeting with Toto, Paddy and Lewis today, I wish to go a step further and describe it as an error of judgement on my part.
“The number one rule for us as team-mates is that we must not collide, but that is exactly what happened.
“For that error of judgement, I apologise to Lewis and the team. I also want to say sorry to the fans who were deprived of our battle for the lead in Belgium.”
The team have made it clear that they won’t issue team orders but will also not accept further clashes and Rosberg is hopefuly of a controversy free end to the season.
“Lewis and I have been given clear instructions about how we race each other,” he added.
“As drivers, we have a clear responsibility to the team, the fans of the sport, our partners and Mercedes-Benz to deliver clean racing. We take that responsibility very seriously.
“I look forward to concluding the season with hard, fair competition on and off track right up to the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi.”
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