Panis 'Very Annoyed' by Stewards Decision

Toyota's Olivier Panis said he was very annoyed at the stewards' decision after he was sent to the back of the grid for Sunday's British Grand Prix for holding up Brazilian Felipe Massa in qualifying.

The Frenchman was still going slowly around the track when Massa's Sauber came up behind him on his fast lap. The team blamed a mistake in communication.

Formula One's governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the stewards had decided a breach of the rules had been committed and deleted Panis's time. The Frenchman had been 11th on the starting grid. Massa was 10th.

"It was not intentional and I did all I could not to impede his lap. I am very annoyed at the decision from the stewards," Panis said.

Technical director Mike Gascoyne was also strongly critical of the officials.

"Having reviewed the evidence in the stewards' meeting we were sure that Massa could take the racing line and not be held up in any way," he said. "We are therefore very disappointed in the stewards' decision to disallow Olivier's time and we feel that the penalty is both too harsh and undeserved."