Williams driver Ralf Schumacher was officially blamed for a first-corner accident that led to six cars going out of Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Race stewards decided at a meeting after the race that the German had caused the crash and ordered that he would have to drop 10 grid positions from his qualifying spot at the start of his next race, the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 24.

Schumacher collided with Finn Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren and the Ferrari of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello as the three cars left the grid on Sunday.

Three other cars were caught up in the wake of the crash and forced to abandon the race, which was eventually won by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya in a Williams.

Officials said Schumacher had the right to appeal against the punishment.