Sebastian Vettel still believes Lewis Hamilton's move to unlap himself in the German Grand Prix was unnecessary, although he said he didn't mean to describe his British rival as "stupid."
Hamilton decided to pass Vettel to return to the lead lap while the World Champion was fighting for the lead of the race with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, a move that earned the Red Bull driver's ire after the race. Although Vettel conceded the move was not against the rules, he still believes it was not necessary.
"If you look at the rules it is clear you are allowed to do that," said Vettel in Hungary. "I said it was unnecessary. I was hunting Fernando, it was a couple of laps to the pit stop, and it didn't help me. It probably helped Jenson [Button], but it is racing.
"I am not complaining. I am saying it was unnecessary from a racing point of view to distract the leaders, no matter who it was."
Vettel said he never accused Hamilton of being stupid.
"If I say after the race that I thought it was unnecessary, and then it gets put and quoted that I said he is stupid, then it is quite disappointing because sometimes I have a mouth, I say a couple of words, you have ears, but it seems somehow in that process mistakes happen," he said.
The Red Bull driver, who lost second place in the race after being handed a penalty for overtaking Jenson Button by going off track, said he had moved on from the incident, although he admitted he would have welcomed the FIA telling him to give his position back during the race.
"To be honest, whatever happened, happened. I am not in Hockenheim, I am in Hungary and looking forward to this race. But obviously it would help to get feedback from race direction as soon as possible or from the team. Getting an idea from the outside would obviously help, but for me it was fine, that is why I did it. In the end it was not fine and that is why we got the penalty."