Backmarkers still under scrutiny

Prior to the season there were some concerns that backmarkers could cause problems for the race leaders when being lapped and after the Malaysian Grand Prix, Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello is calling for action. The Brazilian claimed he was held up by a Minardi, which in turn hampered the Williams of Juan Pablo Montoya, who was behind the Ferrari.

Montoya maintained that Barrichello deliberately blocked him but Rubens said it was not intentional. The Brazilian wants something done about backmarkers who don't get out of the way quick enough.

"I think I was not the only one having problems with backmarkers and with some more difficult tracks coming up, this will be even more of a problem and I think something needs to be done about it," he said.

"Sometimes you see the guy in front of you is so anxious to let you past that he slows down too quickly and that is very dangerous. If you are being lapped, the best thing is to just lift off a tiny amount from the throttle while accelerating and the following car will easily manage to get by."

"The other mistake we have seen is someone who pushes too hard through a difficult corner to get out of your way and then spins in front of you, which can be very dangerous."

Prior to the Australian GP Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber, members of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, asked the FIA for more consistent action on the situation. Schumacher had spoken to FIA race director Charlie Whiting in regard to backmarkers but there has been no official ruling on the matter as yet.