Penalty criteria for blocking in qualifying could change - Warwick

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FIA steward Derek Warwick says the governing body could change its approach to how it penalizes those who impede a driver during qualifying.

A three-place grid penalty handed to Sebastian Vettel last weekend in qualifying for blocking Carlos Sainz generated controversy, with the Ferrari pitwall - which failed to inform Vettel over the radio of Sainz's position on the track - the culprit of the mishap rather than the German driver.

Indeed Sainz himself absolved Vettel of any blame: "He didn't see me and I think he was not warned by radio," said the Spaniard.

"I think it's the result of all of the drivers complaining that someone did this or someone did that," Ferrari's Vettel said.

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Warwick, who was on the panel that decided the penalty, said the stewards had to punish the German last weekend.

"Our hands are tied," he said. "The rules demand it.

"It has already caught out other drivers further down the grid, so you can't punish them and not the big guys," the Briton told Auto Motor und Sport.

The former F1 driver revealed however that the FIA is now thinking about tweaking the rules.

"Maybe there would only be a penalty if the action was dangerous or the affected driver doesn't get into the next session or loses places," he said.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.