Lewis Hamilton is "not concerned" about racing against Max Verstappen in future despite the two clashing in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.
After a red flag on the opening lap in Sao Paulo, the restart saw the two familiar foes make contact heading into the second corner, forcing both off the track.
The incident dropped Hamilton from second to eighth, while Verstappen required a new front wing.
The world champion was handed a five-second time penalty for his part in the crash, which was reminiscent of a number of battles between the pair in their thrilling title battle last season.
Verstappen blamed his rival after the race, which Hamilton's team-mate George Russell went on to win while the seven-time world champion followed up in second to earn a Mercedes one-two.
"It cost him the race win and it gave me five seconds," Verstappen told Sky Sports. "It wouldn't have mattered anything for my race.
"I thought we could race quite well together but clearly the intention was not there to race."
Hamilton responded in the post-race press conference, saying: "I am not concerned.
"I think it's natural when you have the success and the numbers on your chest that you become a bit of a target.
"But it's okay, it's nothing that I've not dealt with before."
The clash with Hamilton was not Verstappen's sole controversy from the race, after he refused to hand sixth place to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who called Verstappen's decision "disappointing" with the Mexican battling Charles Leclerc for second place in the drivers' championship.
Bearman to race for Haas in Sao Paulo with Magnussen out for full weekend
Formula 1 team Haas have announced that driver Kevin Magnussen will miss the remainder of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend with illness, meaning Brit Oliver Bearman will race on Sunday.
The news of Magnussen feeling unwell came before Friday's action got under way and the decision was taken for Bearman to step in for free practice, Sprint Qualifying and Saturday's Sprint.
But soon after Sprint Qualifying, in which Bearman placed 10th, it was confirmed that Magnussen would not return to take any part of the weekend's running order.
Bearman was delighted with his showing, especially having had such little notice that he was going to be called into action.
"The car was feeling good all day honestly. From the first lap I did in P1, I had a great feeling. So, happy to be in SQ3 and finally make it to the third stage of a qualifying session," he told the official Formula 1 website.
"Ayao [Komatsu] woke me up this morning at like 6:30 with the call, but when I saw his name I wasn't so mad.
"If it was my mum or something, not realising the time, I would have been a bit more angry."
This is not the first time 19-year-old Bearman has stood with little preparation time, having previously raced for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia after Carlos Sainz was forced to withdraw through injury.
He has also come in for Magnussen before as well, replacing him in Azerbaijan when the driver was hit with a one-race ban.
The opportunity comes ahead of his full-time Formula 1 debut next year, in which he will take a seat for Haas.
Bearman to race for Haas at Sao Paulo with Magnussen out for full weekend
Formula 1 team Haas have announced that driver Kevin Magnussen will miss the remainder of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend with illness, meaning Brit Oliver Bearman will race on Sunday.
The news of Magnussen feeling unwell came before Friday's action got under way and the decision was taken for Bearman to step in for free practice, Sprint Qualifying and Saturday's Sprint.
But soon after Sprint Qualifying, in which Bearman placed 10th, it was confirmed that Magnussen would not return to take any part of the weekend's running order.
Bearman was delighted with his showing, especially having had such little notice that he was going to be called into action.
"The car was feeling good all day honestly. From the first lap I did in P1, I had a great feeling. So, happy to be in SQ3 and finally make it to the third stage of a qualifying session," he told the official Formula 1 website.
"Ayao [Komatsu] woke me up this morning at like 6:30 with the call, but when I saw his name I wasn't so mad.
"If it was my mum or something, not realising the time, I would have been a bit more angry."
This is not the first time 19-year-old Bearman has stood with little preparation time, having previously raced for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia after Carlos Sainz was forced to withdraw through injury.
He has also come in for Magnussen before as well, replacing him in Azerbaijan when the driver was hit with a one-race ban.
The opportunity comes ahead of his full-time Formula 1 debut next year, in which he will take a seat for Haas.
Piastri prepared to give up Sprint victory in Brazil to benefit Norris
Oscar Piastri explained he would be willing to follow team orders to help out Lando Norris in his championship battle after claiming pole position for the Sprint at the Brazil Grand Prix.
Piastri surged to the front row for Saturday's Sprint, edging McLaren team-mate Norris in the final moments, after the Briton had led proceedings throughout.
Norris was pipped by two hundredths of a second, though is in prime position to close the gap to Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings.
Verstappen finished fourth, but is set to face a five-place grid drop for Sunday's race after Red Bull elected to change his power unit for the sixth time this season.
Norris is currently 47 points behind the Dutchman in the drivers' championship, with this weekend offering the perfect opportunity for him to close the gap at the summit.
Despite his impressive effort, Piastri confirmed that the team is his priority, and he will focus on their overall result before they switch attention to the grand prix on Sunday.
“We’ll see what the pace is like for both of us tomorrow. I think first and second is the first objective, and then we’ll see what order it is," Piastri told Sky Sports.
“I know that I’m not in the running for the drivers’ standings and for the team, it doesn’t matter which way around we are. I know that’s the case and we’ll see.”
Quizzed further on whether he would give up the win outright, he added: “Yes. I’ve said I would from when we first had these discussions.
"It would be nice to win, but it’s one point difference, and it’s not the main race so we’ll see.
“Lando needs the points in the drivers’ standings a lot more than I do, but of course I still want to win.
"So if I put in the effort and have good pace, I’m sure that won’t go unnoticed, but let’s see.”
Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Saturday's sprint, with Verstappen just behind, while Carlos Sainz, the winner at the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend, took fifth.
Mercedes' George Russell came in sixth, while the Alpine of Pierre Gasly finished seventh.
Liam Lawson, Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman, who replaced the unwell Kevin Magnussen at Haas for the Sprint, rounded out the top 10.
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