Villeneuve Gets 'Minus Points' from Sauber

In a move that Sauber described as "the most depressing thing that a team can experience", Villeneuve ruined his and teammate Massa's chances of points by trying to go past the Brazilian only to force him down the escape road while damaging his own car.

Both drivers were summoned to a meeting to discuss the incident at the team's Hinwil factory last week, and Sauber said: "I was really angry, but in these situations it is important not to get too emotional.

"So we only spoke about the incident days later. I will not comment on what has been said there. If I read about reprimands or fines or whatever, I have no idea where that does come from.

"I only say this much: I have a black book in which I keep a record of plus and minus points. And Jacques got some severe minus points for his manoeuvre in Monaco."

Villeneuve defended his move claiming his tyres were in better condition than Massa's and said he had no regrets over the incident.

Asked whether it wouldn't have been better to ask Massa to move over for Villeneuve, Sauber said team orders would not have been helpful at Monaco, not to mention they are illegal under existing regulations.

"You have to bear in mind that our duo was within a whole group of cars," the Swiss said. "If Massa lets Villeneuve pass, that does not mean that the next driver ahead of Jacques will be as cooperative.

"For the team, it does not matter if it is Villeneuve and Massa, or Massa and Villeneuve in the end; for the drivers, the difference is huge.

"I can remember a situation with [Nick] Heidfeld and Massa at the Hockenheimring where we insisted. Orders like these are most unsympathetic.

"Apart from that, team orders are forbidden in Formula One. We only could have made Massa aware of the fact that there is Villeneuve behind him. It would have been up to him to react accordingly. Generally, it takes very much for me to intervene in a race."