Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa have set their differences during the 2011 Formula One season aside after the season finale in Brazil, after Hamilton visited Massa in the paddock after the race to share a hug with his long-time nemesis.
In one of the most underwhelming ends to a Formula One driver feud ever, Massa and Hamilton both said that they now considered the issues between them closed after the hug.The pair fell out during 2011 after a number of on-track clashes between the two of them.
The duo made contact in Monaco during the race, and went on to clash again at Silverstone, before a number of incidents in races in Singapore, Japan and India pushed the situation further to breaking point.
The feud even saw Massa angrily confront Hamilton in front of TV cameras in parc ferme after their clash during the Singapore race.
But after the race in Brazil, which also featured some close-run racing between the two drivers, Hamilton said that he was happy to have had a chance to clear the air.
"It's been a long hard year for all the drivers, and I hope they all have a good winter. It was good to have a nice chat with Felipe after the race," he was quoted as saying by the Autosport website.
"I have great respect for him and I'm already looking forward to racing him again next year."
Massa himself said that it had been "nice" to see Hamilton make the effort, but made sure he added that he felt the onus had been on Hamilton to make the gesture.
"I never had anything against him. I always respected him, even this year after everything that has happened," he rambled, possibly still flustered from the hug.
He added: "I think it is nice of him to come here because it was never going to come from me because I did nothing wrong during the year."
Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali added: "I think that I was pleased today to see Lewis Hamilton coming here today and hugging Felipe, because at the end of the day that is what it is all about.
"It was a good gesture and I am happy it is pretty cleared up. I am very pleased for that."
Hamilton retired early in the Brazilian race with gearbox failure, while Massa rounded out a disappointing 2011 campaign with a fifth place.
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