Lewis Hamilton says he had no problem with Nico Rosberg's aggressive move at the first corner of the Australian Grand Prix.
Polesitter Hamilton had a poor start off the line in Melbourne and came into Turn 1 third behind Sebastian Vettel and his Mercedes team-mate. Rosberg's line through the corner forced Hamilton across the kerb, giving him a poor exit out of Turn 2 which dropped him down to seventh position.
From that point on Hamilton was in damage limitation mode, which he completed well with a strong drive to second behind Rosberg. He had referenced the first corner incident immediately after the race to explain why he dropped so many positions.
When asked if it was a problem, he said: "Absolutely not, I never said that at all I just said that I got ran wide at turn one. I couldn't really recollect what exactly went on, I assume he had someone up the inside and it was the case that Nico braked late whilst he was battling with Vettel, and really deep, he locked up and I wasn't really anticipating coming over so far to the outside and I took evasive action to avoid him. It was nothing intentional from him and either of us."
The moment was a reverse of several key incidents last season, with Hamilton taking an aggressive line on Rosberg at the first corner in Japan and the United States. On both occasions Rosberg was frustrated with the driving of his team-mate.
Rosberg's victory was his fourth in a row, having won the final three races of 2015 after Hamilton won the championship. Hamilton has said he took his foot off the pedal in the aftermath of his triumph and feels happy to have shown it with a spirited drive in Melbourne.
"I wasn't believing it, I knew it," he replied when asked if it was pleasing to get back to form. "I'm just happy that you know it now."