Kamui Kobayashi 'sorry' over double prang

Kamui Kobayashi, whose place next season at Sauber is in serious jeopardy, apologised to Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg after he sent both crashing out of the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Japanese, criticised by other drivers in the past for his reckless driving, also had to retire from the race because of the incident that occurred just moments into a grand prix that was won by Sebastian Vettel.

"It was my mistake at (the) start," he wrote on Twitter. "Sorry for Jenson and Nice (Nico).... Also to my team."

Button's fine start from lowly 11th was wrecked when Kobayashi came flying down the inside, smashing into the McLaren man and destroying his suspension.

"I've just been hit by Kobayashi. What an idiot!" the Briton and 2009 world champion exclaimed over the team radio.

Also out, not long afterwards, was Rosberg, who retired his Mercedes because of the same incident. Kobayashi, third last week in his native Japan, was forced into the pits for a new nose and tyre.

He was then landed with a drive-through penalty for causing the early carnage, and bowed out soon afterwards when Sauber decided that the damage to his car was too extensive.

The Sauber team tweeted before the race was out: "Kamui says with 4 cars side by side after the start he had nowhere to go but to brake at some point. He is very sorry for Jenson and Nico!"