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Sebastian Vettel described one of the backmarkers in the Malaysian Grand Prix as an "idiot" after a collision cost him fourth place.

The world champion got a puncture while lapping Narain Karthikeyan's HRT and dropped back to finish 11th.

"Like on normal roads, you have some idiots driving around. It seems there is also one driving here," the Red Bull driver said.

Karthikeyan said some leading drivers try to "bully" backmarkers.

Neither man mentioned the other by name, although it appeared clear who they were talking about.

The incident happened on lap 46, with 10 laps to go, as Vettel was chasing Lewis Hamilton's McLaren for the final podium place behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Sauber's Sergio Perez.

Vettel passed Karthikeyan on the back straight at the Sepang track but the two collided as the Indian moved back towards the racing line.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it was Karthikeyan's "responsibility to get out of the way of the leaders as he is a lapped car".

Karthikeyan said: "With Vettel, I got on to the marbles and the car had a lot of wheelspin.

"I had to jink to get out of it and unfortunately he was there. What else I could I do?

"Some of these guys when you get lapped, they just try and bully you so much, it's not fair.

"I won't mention names but sometimes they overtake you and they want you to go off the road.

"With this car it's a big task to qualify and to finish is a big task. We're a small team. We don't want to be a hindrance but doesn't give them the right to bully you. This is not right. "

Karthikeyan was also involved in an incident earlier in the race in which McLaren's Jenson Button collided with the HRT and lost his front wing.

They were racing for 15th place at the time and Button acknowledged it was his fault.

"I can't do anything but laugh really because it was such a horrendous race," Button said after finishing 14th.

"I didn't do a very good job and everything that could have gone wrong did. Just one of those afternoons.

"A lot of the issues were because I wiped my front wing off, locked up my rears and couldn't slow down."