SAO PAULO, Brazil: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who starts Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix from second on the grid, apologized to Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen for impeding him from posting a better time during Saturday's qualifying session.

Raikkonen said that Hamilton got in his way when the Briton left the pits for his final lap.

Hamilton said he didn't intend to get in Raikkonen's way.

"I realized he was very, very close so I slowed down," Hamilton said. "I backed out and he went past me.

"I did the best I could to get out of his way," he added. "And I did apologize if I did get in his way."

Raikkonen, who will start the race from third place on the grid, said Hamilton caused him to lose time.

"On my final flying lap, I lost precious time at turn four because of Hamilton," the Finnish driver said. "It is a real shame but there is no point in recriminations over what has happened."

Ferrari did not file any protest over the incident.

Hamilton, McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen are contending for the drivers' championship in Sunday's season-ending race at Sao Paulo's Interlagos track. Hamilton has a four-point lead over Alonso and a seven-point advantage over Raikkonen.

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SECONDS AWAY: Felipe Massa, the pole sitter for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, was just seconds away from being penalized by motor sports governing body FIA for taking an extra lap after Saturday's qualifying session.

Much to the delight of the thousands of fans that flocked to Sao Paulo's Interlagos track, the young Brazilian driver slowly drove an extra lap to commemorate his pole position.

Since the traffic light on the track would not turn red for another few seconds, Ferrari authorized Massa to take the extra lap.

Asked later if he feared some kind of punishment, Massa said: "No, because my car finished while the traffic light was still green, so I can do another lap and get the checkered flag."