Budapest: Ferrari's Michael Schumacher blamed himself for a red flag error that wrecked his Hungarian Grand Prix hopes on Saturday.
The seven times world champion was handed a two second penalty for qualifying, a sanction that left him 11th on the starting grid at a slow and twisty circuit where overtaking is rare.
It also wiped out a similar time penalty imposed on his principal rival, Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso who qualified 15th.
"I'm incredibly angry," Schumacher told RTL television. "If you look at the situation, it's a bit difficult to explain. I think it makes more sense if everyone would look exactly at a tape of the events and make their own opinion. That should help explain a thing or two.
"But certainly, I have to blame myself." Stewards said in a statement that the German, winner of the last three races, was punished for overtaking two cars under a red warning flag suspending the morning's final practice session.
"I don't think there is an explanation. He made a mistake," said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn.
Former champion Niki Lauda was also lost for words at Schumacher's error: "I don't understand it all. I can't find words to describe it."
Spaniard Alonso, 11 points clear of Schumacher in the championship with six races remaining, was given a two second penalty on Friday for dangerous driving and for ignoring a yellow warning flag.
Schumacher's penalty restored parity between both title contenders, opening the prospect of neither appearing on Sunday's podium, and boosted Alonso's title hopes.
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