Nico Rosberg hit out at Sergio Perez’s “dangerous” driving and said he was glad the Mexican suffered a puncture while overtaking him at Sunday’s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix.

Rosberg had earlier picked up a drive-through penalty for a pit-lane incident with Perez, but he felt a late swerve and clash as he passed the McLaren later in the race was overly aggressive.

“Perez was not right with what he did – definitely dangerous,” grumbled Rosberg, who finished eighth.

“The rules are clear. If you brake and you close the door, then you have to move out again. I was there and he didn’t leave space.

“So it was good he punctured his tyre, which got him out of the way.”

Perez finished 15th after the puncture, adding to what has been a difficult debut season with McLaren for the young Mexican. He put a different spin on events.

“It was a very unfortunate afternoon,” he said. “Everything that could go wrong did. The pit lane, puncture, Nico. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”

Rosberg had been picking his way back through the field after the drive-through penalty incurred for an unsafe release right into the McLaren’s path at the first pit stops.

“It was well deserved and I knew it was coming,” said Rosberg. “It was a pity that it happened.”

Rosberg’s recovery to finish in the points at Suzuka was the only bright spot on a hugely disappointing day for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton retiring on lap seven after starting from third on the grid.

The Briton shredded a tyre clashing with race winner Sebastian Vettel and then had to retire, allowing Ferrari to stretch their slender lead over Mercedes to 10 points as they bid to seal second in the constructors’ championship.

“Seb’s front wing clipped my right rear, cut the tyre and that was that,” said Hamilton. “It wasn’t his fault at all – just one of those things that wasn’t meant to be this afternoon. I feel most gutted for the team.”