Barrichello accepts Schumacher apology

Barrichello was left fuming after the Hungaroring event when Schumacher moved across on him to defend his position during a late-race fight for position - and pushed his Williams rival close to the wall.

Schumacher was handed a ten-place grid penalty for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix as a result of his driving - and issued a public statement after the event saying sorry.

However, he has waited until today to communicate personally with Barrichello - sending his former team-mate a text message to say sorry.

"I have no problem to speak to Rubens," said Schumacher at Spa-Francorchamps. "There were two reasons I sent him a text - one of the main reasons is that it was his 300th grand prix and we have quite a history together.

"I thought it appropriate to congratulate him and clarify the point, because he felt I wanted to push him against the wall [in Hungary] and that was not my ambition. I wanted to race very tightly without any contact. If he felt this [pushing him into the wall] was the case then I am sorry for that."

Barrichello said he accepted Schumacher's apology.

"I received a message from him today, an SMS," said the Brazilian. "Somebody said to him that I was under the impression he had pushed me onto the wall, and he said it wasn't the case and he apologised for that.

"I just said 'thank you, no problem'. I accepted it, and wished him a good weekend. Life goes on."