Coulthard apologises to Montoya

Coulthard was furious with Montoya after he felt his final lap in qualifying had been ruined by his McLaren rival - who had run off the track at the final corner.

The Red Bull Racing driver labeled Montoya's driving as 'disgusting' and 'unacceptable' before claiming there was little point in speaking to his rival.

"I wouldn't waste my time by going to see Juan Pablo," said Coulthard. "It would be like going to a zoo and trying to communicate with a chimpanzee. We speak a different language and have a different racing etiquette, so there is no point talking to him."

Coulthard felt that his comments had overstepped the mark, however, and duly went to visit Montoya on Sunday morning at Silverstone to say sorry. Montoya said that he accepted the apology and made it clear that he had not deliberately tried to slow Coulthard in qualifying.

"He came and apologised this morning. It was nice," said Montoya. "You know we had a chat with the stewards and everything, and he told me, 'I backed off because I thought you were going to get in my way and I didn't trust you.'

"I said 'you haven't talked to me in the six years I have been here so it is hard to say why you are not going to trust me when I have never done anything to you'. I said you were never close to me.

"I was coming into the pits and he was starting his lap and he was never close enough for me to pick up the pace. I went off the track then stayed right to come into the pits and when he started his lap he was probably two seconds behind so he said he had to back off to make sure I didn't screw his lap, but I didn't plan to."

Montoya denied that any of the friction between the pair was caused by Montoya being in contention for a drive at Red Bull Racing next year.

"I don't have any issues with that," explained the Colombian. "I think it is not my call. It is Red Bull or whoever's decision about who they want to put in the car and my decision as well when I go. I don't think it had anything to do with it."