Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes the outcry and "overreaction" from fans, pundits and drivers over Sebastian Vettel's Canadian Grand Prix penalty has been "ludicrous".
Palmer is of the opinion that the penalty was deserved – an opinion shared by 2016 Champion Nico Rosberg – and was critical of the Ferrari driver making yet another mistake whilst under pressure from Lewis Hamilton.
"Vettel dropped the ball in a big way. After 47 laps of pressure, Hamilton finally had his moment, and being forced into the wall or having to back off is not a fair defence from Vettel," Palmer wrote in his BBC Sport column.
"It continues a theme of the German cracking under pressure. Whatever the reason, it doesn't excuse another basic error from a four-time world champion.
"This was no small error. He was the only driver in the entire Grand Prix to cut the Turn Three/Four chicane. And he did so when he had his rival so close behind him as well for the lead of the race.
"The last time the leader threw the race away on his own, that man was Vettel. That was also the last time Vettel had pole position – 17 races ago in Hockenheim."
Palmer reckons the stewards were right to penalise Vettel with the lightest penalty at their disposal, and says the reaction to that has been "ludicrous" and one driven by emotions, rather than sense, as the realisation sets in that Ferrari's title challenge is over.
"Vettel picked up a five-second penalty. Yes, it decided the Grand Prix, depriving everybody of a potentially great spectacle, but this is actually the softest penalty the stewards could possibly impose for a crime Vettel quite clearly committed.
"But in all of this, in the bigger picture, Vettel still finished second. It's not what he wanted, it's not what he should have had, but it's still a strong result and a finish ahead of his team-mate.
"It's not like we are talking about a complete disqualification from the race, in some mad, nonsensical decision from the stewards.
"The overreaction and the outcry post race has been quite frankly ludicrous.
"I can only imagine it's an emotional reaction based on that fact that we are already seeing the dying embers of any hopes of a Ferrari title challenge, or potentially a title battle at all."
