Coulthard calls for penalty consistency

Both Fernando Alonso and his McLaren team were penalised in Hungary after the stewards did not accept the team's nor the Spaniard's explanations for the incident which saw the world champion hold up his teammate Lewis Hamilton during qualifying, causing the Briton to lose the opportunity to run another flying lap.

Alonso was critical of the penalty, saying there was no rule that specified he should be penalised in such a situation.

Coulthard admitted he was also left wondering why the race stewards decided on that penalty, and has also called for more consistency when applying punishments.

"Like many others in the pitlane I am first and foremost a fan of the sport, so I was just as fascinated as you guys by the developing rivalry between Alonso and Hamilton after qualifying in Hungary," Coulthard wrote in his column for ITV.

"But a number of us inside F1 circles were also left wondering how the stewards came to decide on the punishment meted out to Alonso and McLaren.

"Why, for instance, was McLaren singled out for punishment while Ferrari wasn't pulled up for failing to put fuel in Felipe Massa's Ferrari? Didn't that hamper Felipe's chances in qualifying as well?

"Certainly everyone I have spoken to, both within the paddock and friends that I have outside the sport who are fans, are flabbergasted by how some of F1's rules and regulations are enforced.

"It's bit difficult to follow the sport when you find there isn't really a consistent set of criteria for how penalties are applied.

"Having a permanent FIA steward, Tony Scott-Andrews, has improved things, because he knows the personalities involved and that allows him to make a more even judgement.

"But even so it's important for F1 to be more consistent and transparent in applying penalties."