Michael Schumacher has revealed he held a private conversation with Felipe Massa about the controversial events in Germany.

Massa has effectively become Ferrari's number two driver for the remainder of the season after being told, via coded messages, to allow team-mate Fernando Alonso to pass and collect the win.

It was a situation that has since caused a storm in Formula One as team orders are banned, resulting in Ferrari being fined 100,000 US dollars and facing a World Motor Sport Council hearing.

Massa, visibly angered after the race, must now play second fiddle to Alonso, who will be given preferential treatment in his bid to win the title.

It led to Schumacher speaking with Massa, who is a close friend after their spell as team-mates at Ferrari in 2006 prior to the German retiring.

"He is experienced enough not to need advice from me," said the seven-times champion at a Mercedes-Benz event in Budapest.

"But I definitely had a little conversation with him, which was naturally of a private nature."

The incident has led to a great deal of debate this week as to whether the rule on team orders should be dropped.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes team principals should be allowed to run their organisations as they see fit.

But Mercedes motor sport vice-president Norbert Haug believes it is not as simple as that.

"It is definitely not a black and white decision. It's a difficult one," said Haug.

"If you allow it then the consequence will be you see overtaking manoeuvres that probably are not expected.

"And if you do not allow it then you have some issues with hidden strategies, or whatever, so we will not solve this problem today.

"You could say be very strict and punish everybody, but then it needs to be the same for everybody in the whole field.

"So it needs to be very carefully thought through, and a solution should be found, which would be the wish of all of us.

"But it's not such an easy one to resolve, otherwise the solution would be in place by now.

"We have to think we are racing for the spectators, for the guys who are interested in the sport.

"We have to accept the most important guys are those in the car because if they are not fully focused then they will not achieve anything, and that needs to be kept in mind."