Mika Salo admits Formula 1 stewards controversy

Formula 1 steward Mika Salo has acknowledged the controversy over penalties given to Ferrari drivers in recent races.

After Sebastian Vettel got a five-second penalty in France, his teammate Kimi Raikkonen was penalised 10 seconds for a similar first-lap incident at Silverstone.

Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat reports that former F1 driver Mika Salo will be a steward this weekend at Hockenheim, and he agrees that the recent rulings against the Ferrari drivers were inconsistent.

"I would have given Kimi a five-second penalty too. Basically, the situations with Kimi and Sebastian were quite similar," said Salo.

"On the other hand, I understand a different interpretation, because after Vettel's case it was shown that in many contexts a five-second penalty was too mild."

Ferrari will be looking to extend their 20-point lead over second-placed Mercedes at this weekend's race.