The Italian media had its claws out as it tore into Ferrari and Carlos Sainz for their failure to score any points at the Australian Grand Prix.
But Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich also came in for plenty of criticism. Corriere della Sera took aim at the German for his role in the awarding of the late time penalty to Sainz, which dropped him out of the points positions from fourth place.
The Spaniard was punished by the stewards for causing Fernando Alonso to spin in a restart just two laps from the end. That incensed CdS, which compared Wittich to former race director Michael Masi and called for the FIA to take action.
The publication wrote: "Competition leader Niels Wittich gets a zero from us. He, like his predecessor Michael Masi, did everything wrong. He seems to want to cover himself on all fronts, so as not to be held liable. The FIA also gets a zero, because they show no flexibility at all when applying the rules. In fact, the rules are not properly applied at all. They must fire Wittich immediately."
CdS did concede, though, that Sainz should not have spun Alonso around in that position, adding: "Sainz has to look in the mirror, but his punishment was exaggerated. [Charles] Leclerc was frustrated after qualifying and was already out after three turns a day later."
Meanwhile, Corriere dello Sport took aim at Ferrari for their race management, while also claiming the drivers only have themselves to blame. It declared: "Ferrari is losing patience with the far too nervous drivers. Leclerc immediately went KO, while Sainz had a chance to win a podium, but ruined everything himself.
"We have to write about mistakes, plural, because it doesn't stop at one mistake. It is not for nothing that Ferrari has only 26 points. Leclerc was furious and needs to calm down.
"Of course, he can't help Ferrari being too slow, but losing this way only makes everything worse. The podium was deserved for Ferrari, but Sainz threw everything away by hitting Alonso."
And Gazzetta dello Sport also laid thee blame at the feet of the drivers, writing: "Leclerc ended up in the gravel because he was too rushed and Carlos Sainz unfortunately went 'wrong' at the restart. Before that, he drove forward handsomely and was on for a podium."
