Lewis Hamilton says he wasn't given any indication by his Mercedes team that Romain Grosjean was approaching him on track, amid an investigation into blocking which could threaten the Briton's pole position.
The stewards announced an investigation into the incident after Grosjean complained that he had been held up by Hamilton, who was preparing for his first flying lap in Q3.
Hamilton insists he wasn't aware of Grosjean's presence, with the team failing to inform him as they usually would.
"I need to watch the replay. I was coming around to start my lap, Valtteri [Bottas] was up ahead, I was, as we all do, trying to get the space," he explained.
"Behind me was one of the Force Indias, who then came in [to the pits], so there was no-one behind me, literally as I was about to get on the gas I looked in the mirror and saw there was a car coming, so I don’t know if I got in the way, and if I did I apologise.
"I had no indication from the team that there was anyone coming,
"I think I just got away without blocking him but I need to look at the footage… I don’t think he was that close when I had pulled away but I’ll have a look."