Canadian GP: Mark Webber slams 'pay driver' Giedo van der Garde

The Australian, speaking immediately after the race, blamed the Dutchman for turning in on him at the hairpin while being lapped.

The stewards hit van der Garde with a 10-second stop/go penalty for the incident, with the Dutchman later being given a five-place grid penalty for the British GP after clashing with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber.

The incident happened on lap 37, shortly after Webber had passed Lewis Hamilton to run in the clear air he needed, and the Australian believes it handed Fernando Alonso the initiative in the battle for third.

"We finally got past him [Hamilton] and the car was happy then, everything started to cool down and we could get into a rhythm until we caught a pay driver with no mirrors and then lost the front wing," said Webber.

"The car was very damaged after that. You can't have a bleeding car with Fernando around you.

"They [backmarkers] are doing their own race as well, I've been there in a Minardi but you need to look in your mirrors."

Van der Garde believes that the stop/go penalty was harsh and that Webber made his move from too far back.

"From my view, he was quite far behind me for the hairpin," van der Garde told AUTOSPORT. "I turned in and he hit me.

"Before the braking zone, I saw him and [decided] I would let him past on the next straight.

"It is tough, but I am one of the fairest drivers out there and I don't hit anybody.

"I will learn from the mistakes but I think the penalties are a bit harsh.

"I feel a bit sorry for Mark - it was not my intention to hit him."

When Webber's comments about him being a pay driver who does not use his mirrors were put to him by AUTOSPORT, van der Garde said he thought Webber was being "hard".

"He got a little damage, but I think you have to be a little more patient because there was quite a big gap when I looked in my mirrors before braking.

"After that, there was a long straight and both of us would not lose a lot.

"It's a hard comment but all I can say is sorry [it happened]."