Mercedes has withdrawn its protest against Max Verstappen's driving in the Japanese Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton saying "it's not what we do".
Hamilton attacked Verstappen at the final chicane on the penultimate lap of the race, attempting to making a move on the inside but seeing the Red Bull close the door. Hamilton then had to switch to the outside of the track and ran wide as a result, rejoining behind Verstappen and finishing the race in third place.
Mercedes lodged a protest against the result of the race as it alleged Verstappen "drove erratically and in a dangerous manner, forcing [Hamilton] to take evasive action at Turn 16".
However, with neither driver at the circuit to allow a hearing to take place, the matter was deferred to the United States Grand Prix, at which point Mercedes withdrew its protest.
It appears Hamilton did not support the protest himself despite being in a position to profit from any penalty for Verstappen, originally tweeting: "There is no protest from either myself or Mercedes. One idiot said we have but it's not true. Max drove well, end of. We move on."
Hamilton then deleted his tweet and clarified: "There is no protest from myself. Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are champions, we move on. End of!"
The result of the Japanese Grand Prix was made official following the withdrawal of the protest, with Hamilton now 33 points behind race winner Nico Rosberg in the drivers' championship.
REPORT: Rosberg wins in Japan as Hamilton fights back to third
Breakfast with ... Tetsuo Tsugawa
FEATURE: Silbermann says... Snapchat and soap in Suzuka
Chris Medland's 2016 Japanese Grand Prix preview
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…
On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…
Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…
Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…
Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…