Williams driver Nicholas Latifi has apologised and said it was not his intention to play such a major role in deciding the outcome of the F1 championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Latifi's crash on lap 52 of 58 was the spark for the safety car which changed the whole race, controversially setting up Max Verstappen's last lap pass on rival Lewis Hamilton for the win and championship.
Latifi said he had no idea who finely poised the title fight was out in front and put the crash down to driver error.
"It was never my intention and I can only apologise for influencing and creating an opportunity," Latifi said.