Nikita Mazepin accepted blame for contact with Mick Schumacher that sent his Haas team-mate into a spin at the Italian Grand Prix.
Mazepin tipped Schumacher into a spin at Monza’s second chicane shortly after the Safety Car period.
Schumacher was able to recover, and finish the race in 15th place, though Mazepin pitted again before retiring due to a power unit issue.
“With Mick, he braked very early going in to Turn 4 and I just put my nose there,” said Mazepin.
“Obviously he needed to make the corner and turn in, so I’m sorry it happened.
“It was my fault, but it was a racing incident. It was obvious that I wasn’t happy about it and that it happened.
“Later I had a flat spot and half a wing plate missing, we needed to box for a pit stop and then obviously the engine said goodbye.”
The contact came after a series of incidents between the pair that prompted a terse exchange of words at Zandvoort.
Team boss Guenther Steiner nonetheless believes that the duo are learning and will avoid incidents in the future.
“Obviously, again we had a run-in between the two drivers but they cleared the air about it,” he said.
“What was said was said and they are good. We’re making progress on that side and hopefully we can keep it like this.
“I think our two guys learned from the last races, now try to move on and try to take onboard the suggestions that we as a team give them and hopefully we have less of this coming in the future, even if it happened.
“If you are clear about it, it’s good, it’s part of learning and fortunately the car was not badly damaged.”
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