Rosberg says Vettel was out of control in Malaysian GP F1 crash

Rosberg spun as a result of the collision and dropped to the back of the field before recovering to third, while Vettel retired with suspension damage.

"I got T-boned by a four-time world champion, out of control," said Rosberg of the incident.

"I thought I was finished after Turn 1. I didn't think a podium would be possible, so I'm happy with that.

"I know how terrible it was in that moment."

Vettel was on the inside line attempting to pass Red Bull driver Max Verstappen when Rosberg cut back to the inside from a wide line.

Vettel believed there was nothing he could do to avoid the collision, saying that Rosberg was entitled to drive as he did while hinting Verstappen did contribute to what happened.

"I tried to race Max into Turn 1, Nico picked a different line ahead, which is his right, and unfortunately we made contact," said Vettel.

"I was squeezed to the inside, I tried to avoid it as much as I could but I couldn't avoid the contact.

"I was braking at the same point as him [Max], he was squeezing me down to the inside because he's racing and both of us would have made the corner no problem.

"Racing him is moving around, everybody knows now.

"If you are squeezed to the inside, your angle doesn't get any better for Turn 1 so I was trying to turn in and get the corner.

"I did make the corner no problem, I wasn't braking massively too late, or too late at all, but Nico tried to cut back to fight Lewis."

Verstappen, who finished second blamed Vettel for the incident, having dropped to sixth as he avoided the resulting melee.

"In Turn 1, I braked late but was OK," said Verstappen.

"Sebastian braked, had no space and he T-boned Nico so I had to avoid all the debris."