The 2007 world champion and the teenager fought each other aggressively at Austin, with Raikkonen becoming animated on the radio as Verstappen gave him little space on track.

However, post-race Raikkonen said he had no problem with Verstappen’s tactics, as long as other drivers are allowed to race in the same way in future.

“I just wanted to ask if it’s OK when you are next to another car, at some point on the exit of the corner are you allowed to always push the other car up on the kerbs,” said Raikkonen.

“Apparently it’s fine. As long as everybody has the same rules that’s OK.

“There are so many rules in F1 these days: you should not move under braking, you should leave a car’s space when the other guy is next to you.

“When they defend the inside, you go to the outside. It’s not leaving anybody space if you push the other guy wide.

“It’s fine – I don’t complain he [Verstappen] is doing anything wrong, as long as it’s fine the next time someone else does it in the same way.

“You can do a lot of things, and then the next time, whoever it is, some other guy gets penalised. That’s not right.

“I don’t complain about what he did this time – but it should be more clear for everybody so we know what we can do.”

Raikkonen said he and Verstappen made contact in their battle, but it was nothing to be concerned about.

“I think we touched once, just slightly,” he said. “It’s tight, it’s racing in the end and I don’t mind.

“It was a very close one and we touched a little bit but it doesn’t matter.”