Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn says the Swiss outfit is appalled by the criticism directed towards Pascal Wehrlein following his decision to withdraw from last Sunday's Australian GP.
As a consequence of a lack of winter training due to a back injury sustained at the ROC in Miami early February, the German driver felt he was unfit to endure a 58-lap race around Albert Park.
He subsequently decided to retire from the weekend's proceedings on Saturday morning, leaving Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi to fill his seat.
Many in the paddock stepped in to lambast Wehrlein, believing he should have just 'got on with it', as David Coulthard said.
But Kaltenborn disapproves strongly of the unfavorable judgment.
"He just needs time," Kaltenborn told Motorsport.com.
"I think it is really awful how people think they have any sort of competence to say anything about him.
"They just have their weird views from wherever they come and have no authority at all to judge over anyone.
"I think it is rather appalling how people think they can judge this and they should look at themselves first.
"It takes a lot for someone so ambitious to openly admit and say, 'Guys, in these circumstances, I cannot cover the entire race distance'.
"So one should rather appreciate that kind of openness and honesty, which is not easy to maintain with the kind of pressure these guys have."
Sauber is expecting Wehrlein's fitness level to improve sufficiently for him to race normally in Shanghai next week.
But Antonio Giovinazzi, who acquitted himself remarkably well last weekend, shall remain on stand-by just in case.
GALLERY: all the pics from Sunday's Australian GP action
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