01/08/2010
NEWS STORY
Michael Schumacher has been handed a ten-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix following the incident in today's race.
After several laps of battling for tenth position, Rubens Barrichello, who was clearly faster than his former teammate and on fresh rubber, was tucked right behind the Mercedes as it entered the main straight.
When the Brazilian went to overtake the German on the right, the seven-time champion clearly moved over almost sending the Williams driver into the pit-wall.
The stewards, who included former F1 driver Derek Warwick, subsequently investigated the incident and found Schumacher guilty of illegitimately impeding Barrichello as defined by Article 16.1 of the 2010 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.
Consequently the German was handed the ten place grid penalty for the next race, which takes place at the end of August.
Speaking after the race, Barrichello - after prompting from team boss turned pundit Eddie Jordan - said it was the worst incident he had ever been involved in, while Schumacher said the Brazilian should have overtaken him on the other side.