McLaren have told Lewis Hamilton to be less hard on himself after an inaugural Indian Grand Prix that again had the 2008 Formula One champion apologising profusely to team and sponsors.

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh felt Hamilton should be easier on himself.

"Yes I do, frankly," he said. "I've told him that on several occasions. Don't apologise. You're a racing driver. If you've made a mistake accept it, learn from it, move on."

Hamilton has been repeatedly punished by the stewards this season for aggressive driving while he and Massa have developed a magnetic attraction on the track that has developed into something of a feud and caused concern at both teams.

Whitmarsh said he had spoken about it to Ferrari counterpart Stefano Domenicali but added that there would be no contrived peace gesture for the cameras.

"A staged handshake, a conciliatory gesture outside the garage at the next Grand Prix ... you don't want that, unless it's to take the mickey out of it. They've got to sort themselves out," he said firmly.

Hamilton has made errors of judgement while team-mate Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, has gone from strength to strength in the closing races of a championship already won by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.