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Nico Rosberg said he was pleased Sergio Perez got a puncture in their Japanese Grand Prix battle, describing the Mexican's driving as "dangerous".

Mercedes driver Rosberg came up behind Perez's McLaren in a battle for eighth late on.

As Rosberg completed a pass, contact between them left Perez with a puncture, dropping him to 15th while the German came home eighth.

Rosberg was adamant Perez brought the incident upon himself with unfair defensive driving.

"Perez was not right with what he did. Definitely dangerous," said Rosberg.

"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 preferred not to apportion blame for the clash.

"It was a tough afternoon," he said. "Everything that could go wrong did. The pitlane, puncture, Nico..."

Rosberg was fighting back having earlier picked up a drive-through penalty for another incident with Perez, in that case for an unsafe release into the McLaren's path at the first pitstops.

The German had no qualms about that punishment.

"It was well deserved and I knew it was coming, too," Rosberg said.

"It was a dangerous release and it was a pity that it happened."