Sauber's Felipe Massa has become the first driver to fall foul of a new Formula One rule that demotes drivers 10 places on the grid for an infringement.

Massa was blamed for a collision with Pedro de la Rosa's Jaguar during the Italian Grand Prix and will be moved 10 places back on the grid at the US GP in two weeks' time.

Stewards called in the young Brazilian after the race and later issued a statement saying they felt Massa was at fault for the crash, which forced De la Rosa to retire.

Massa, who was also unable to continue, will now become the first driver in F1 history to be moved 10 positions down the grid after qualifying. That will happen at Indianapolis on 29 September.

His Sauber team can still appeal the decision although they have not commented on the situation.

Massa protested his innocence: "On lap 15, De la Rosa cut the first chicane, but instead of moving over to let me by he stayed ahead for a lap.

"He was so slow going down to Ascari that I put my car in the middle of the track and, as far as I was concerned, I was past him.

"We touched and that damaged either my right rear suspension or the tyre, and a lap later I was out."