Stewards reprimand Webber for clash

Date published : 28 Mar 2010 - 12:21:05

The Australian Grand Prix stewards reprimanded Mark Webber for causing the collision that cost him and Lewis Hamilton positions in the closing stages.The duo were battling to get past Robert Kubica and the Ferraris having lost ground when they pitted to change to fresh tyres halfway through the race.Hamilton had moved to the outside of Fernando Alonso into turn 13 to try and claim fourth place, but was then clipped by Webber's Red Bull, which ran into the back of the McLaren under braking.Both were able to keep going, but Webber fell to ninth after pitting for a new front wing, and Hamilton came home sixth once he had extricated himself from the gravel.Having decided that Webber was at fault for the crash, the stewards issued a reprimanded but no further punishments.The Australian accepted responsibility and apologised to Hamilton immediately after the race."I was looking to get the run coming back out but when I got that close, the front wing just basically did not work I could not get the car stopped," Webber said."It lifted up and I just locked up, tried to get more on the inside to make it wheel-to-wheel but in the end obviously I hit him with the front wing in the rear tyre."