Felipe Massa has become the first driver to be suffer the punishment of being moved back 10 places from his qualifying position at the next Grand Prix.

Massa, driving for Sauber, collided with Pedro de la Rosa's Jaguar in the Italian Grand Prix, knocking both of them out of the race. Stewards decided Massa was to blame and have imposed the punishment, which was added to the rule book at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in March.

Sauber can appeal against the decision. If it is not overturned the punishment will be enacted at the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis on 29 September.

The incident happened at the Ascari chicane on lap 15. De la Rosa had been tracking Massa for some time when he attempted the pass. Commenting on the accident, he said 'My patience was running out and I then made a move to pass him at the Ascari chicane when he moved over again and took my front wing off'. The Jaguar also suffered a broken front suspension.

Massa saw it differently: 'He was so slow going down to Ascari that I put my car in the middle of the track and, as far as I was concerned, I was past him. Maybe he hit the throttle again. Whatever, we touched, and that damaged either my right rear suspension or the tyre, so a lap later I was out.'