Webber accepts Grosjean apology

YEongam, South Korea, Oct 11, 2012 (AFP) - Mark Webber said Thursday he was satisfied with Romain Grosjean's apology after the Lotus driver hit the Red Bull man, ruining his chances at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

However the feisty Australian's body language, at a press conference ahead of the race in South Korea where Grosjean was also present, suggested that bad blood remains.

Grosjean drove into Webber seconds into the race at Suzuka. The Australian had to scramble to rejoin the action and then made a pit stop for repairs, returning at the back of the field before racing hard to finish ninth.

The Frenchman later admitted he made "a stupid mistake" and, having already served a ban this season for the same thing, vowed to change his ways. He also apologised to Webber after the race in Japan.

Asked if he accepted the apology, Webber replied tersely: "I went to see Romain. We had a discussion about it, and that was it. So, yeah."

Grosjean said: "All I could do was apologise. I was very sorry."

A furious Webber suggested immediately after the Japan race that the Frenchman might need another "holiday", or ban, labelling his driving "embarrassing" and branding him "a first-lap nutcase".

Grosjean, who has also been had a lecture from his Lotus team, said he was hoping to avoid more trouble in Sunday's race.

"I'm clearly conscious of the risk at the start, I'm working on changing quite a lot of things but work doesn't come from one day to the other one," he said.

"There is a process going on. I said I was very sorry. I'm not stupid and I'm conscious of the risk."