The duo came close to making contact during the first laps of the race as they fought for fourth position.

Raikkonen had to go off the track to avoid Vettel after the German dived down the inside at Turn 2.

Eventually Vettel found a way past and went on to finish in second place behind Lewis Hamilton, and the German said it would have been wrong for Ferrari to impose team orders on them during the battle.

"I think we both enjoyed it," said Vettel after the race. "I came out in front, so I enjoyed it a bit more than him.

"It would have been the wrong thing to do to go on radio and take away fight and excitement from us.

"I tried to pace myself a bit and then had another safety car and then I had a restart and knew it would be a good option, so I tried around the outside.

"It felt very, very close. He was fair, giving me enough room to survive so a good battle."

He added: "I don't think in lap 10 you think about those things, we are free to race.

"Lewis was controlling the race already and showing he was quick so it didn't make much sense to talk about these things. It was lap 10-15, so it was very early."