Oct.20 (GMM) Stewards at the Brazilian grand prix are not investigating Lewis Hamilton for holding up Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen during qualifying on Saturday.

Ferrari complained to the FIA representatives after the session at Interlagos, claiming that Hamilton's slowing down lap on the run to turn four cost the flying Raikkonen four tenths.

An official protest was not lodged, however, and stewards on Saturday afternoon were not looking further into the matter.

Hamilton apologised to Raikkonen after the incident as he faced a barrage of hostile questions from the international media.

"I apologise if I got in his way, but I didn't think he was that close to me," said the Briton, adding that if he had not exited the pits at that moment, he would have held up his teammate Fernando Alonso who was queuing behind him for service.

"I was told I would be coming out close to Kimi," he acknowledged.

"I stayed where I was and braked. I didn't feel I hindered his lap, and I did get out of the way."

Raikkonen characteristically brushed aside the issue, but admitted that Hamilton could have let him past "in a slightly more easier way".

"But it is what it is now, so it doesn't change anything," the Finn added.