Rosberg admits to ’error of judgement’

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.

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.

Lewis and I have been given clear instructions about how we race each other.

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.