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Ralf Schumacher was punished for his part in the opening lap crash in the German Grand Prix here Sunday and will lose 10 grid positions in the next race in Hungary.
Race stewards deemed that the Williams driver had caused an avoidable accident at the start of the race, which put McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello out of the race as well as the German himself.
A statement from the FIA said that Schumacher had "admitted to paying no attention to the position of other cars" and he will be put back 10 places on the grid at the Hungaroring in three weeks time.
The FIA said: "Having heard the explanation of each driver and seen different camera views, the stewards concluded that Ralf Schumacher began to move to his left to obtain a better racing line for the first corner.
"Ralf Schumacher admitted to paying no attention to the position of other cars during this manoeuevre.
"The stewards of the meeting impose on Ralf Schumacher a drop of 10 grid positions at the driver's next race."
Schumacher's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya led the race from start to finish to close to within six points of championship leader Michael Schumacher, of Ferrari.
Ralf Schumacher was punished for his part in the opening lap crash in the German Grand Prix here Sunday and will lose 10 grid positions in the next race in Hungary.
Race stewards deemed that the Williams driver had caused an avoidable accident at the start of the race, which put McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello out of the race as well as the German himself.
A statement from the FIA said that Schumacher had "admitted to paying no attention to the position of other cars" and he will be put back 10 places on the grid at the Hungaroring in three weeks time.
The FIA said: "Having heard the explanation of each driver and seen different camera views, the stewards concluded that Ralf Schumacher began to move to his left to obtain a better racing line for the first corner.
"Ralf Schumacher admitted to paying no attention to the position of other cars during this manoeuevre.
"The stewards of the meeting impose on Ralf Schumacher a drop of 10 grid positions at the driver's next race."
Schumacher's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya led the race from start to finish to close to within six points of championship leader Michael Schumacher, of Ferrari.