The Brazilian Ferrari driver was trying to pass the McLaren for second place with 10 laps to go but the Scot cut across the front of Barrichello and their cars touched.

Barrichello had a word with Coulthard when they climbed out of their cars at the end of the race, in which the McLaren star held on to second place.

Coulthard said: "It was very marginal with Rubens in the run down the last chicane.

"He has expressed that opinion and I respect that and I've apologised for squeezing him, but I had to pull out to pass [Jordan driver Takuma] Sato."

The incident happened when the two were trying to lap backmarker Sato on the long straight down to the final chicane.

Coulthard was slipstreaming Sato as Barrichello was doing the same to the McLaren.

The Ferrari appeared to have got the advantage into the corner - Barrichello was on the inside and slightly ahead.

But Coulthard ducked to the outside line and then chopped across the front of the Ferrari, brushing Barrichello's left-front wheel with the McLaren's right rear as he did.

Coulthard then cut the chicane, but was saved from having to let Barrichello past to avoid a penalty when the Ferrari did the same.

Coulthard said: "I took a gamble and was happy to give up position to Rubens if he had made the chicane but he didn't."

Barrichello refused to criticise Coulthard in public, but still managed to make his feelings clear.

"There is no point in arguing right now," he said in the official post-race TV interview.

"[When I was alongside] I was able to brake and still make the corner, but when you see some guy going fast on the outside you don't want to let it happen, so you come off the brakes as well."