Massa denies deliberately hitting Hamilton

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Felipe Massa has rejected Lewis Hamilton's claim that he deliberately crashed into him during the Japanese Grand Prix.

The two Formula One world championship rivals were squabbling over fifth place on lap two when Massa, after running wide entering the chicane, cut across the kerbing and struck the left side of Hamilton's McLaren.

The incident dropped Hamilton, who had started from pole position, to the back of the field and earned Ferrari's Massa a drive-through penalty.

"He outbraked me, so I didn't get past him on the way in," said Hamilton, who eventually finished 12th after also being given a drive-through penalty for his uncompromising start which forced Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari off the track.

"I took the corner as normally as always and left room, but he hit me pretty hard. I think it was pretty much as deliberate as can be."

But Massa denied any intent, suggesting it was merely a racing incident.

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"I did not hit him deliberately. For me it was hard but fair and the drive-through really penalized my race," Massa said.

"He put the car inside and I was outside but then he pushed me a little bit on to the gravel and then I put two wheels on the gravel. He closed [the door] and we touched.

"I have a good relationship with Lewis and I will not do something to destroy something by purpose. That is true."

Massa crossed the finish line in eighth but was promoted to seventh after a contentious 25-second penalty was added to Sebastien Bourdais' time when the Toro Rosso driver collided with Massa exiting the pits.

Hamilton's lead in the standings is down to five points with two races remaining, but he remains confident of claiming his first world title despite further questions about his ability to handle pressure.

"There are positives to take away; I've only lost two points to Felipe in the drivers' championship, so it's definitely not over," the Englishman added.

"Now I'll forget today ever happened and move forward; we've got two more races to go and my target is still to win both of them."

Massa set the fastest lap of the race as he recovered from his early-race problems and in his hands the Ferrari again showed itself to be the quickest car in the dry.

"In the second part [of the race], the car was flying, which is very encouraging for the next races," said the Brazilian.

"Now we will give it our all in the next two races. We have great potential available to us and we must do all we can to exploit it."

The final two grands prix of the season are in China next weekend and Brazil on November 2.