Michael Schumacher and Mercedes reckon Bruno Senna made a beginner's mistake in his clash with the seven-time champion in Brazil on Sunday.
The two cars touched as Schumacher completed a pass on the Renault at the Senna S, giving the Mercedes a puncture and doing minor damage to Senna's front wing.
Schumacher had to fight back to 15th place, while Senna was given a drive-through penalty, later hit gearbox trouble, and finished 17th.
"It was a bit of a shame today with the incident with Bruno, which was caused perhaps due to some lack of experience, but then those things happen," said Schumacher.
"Otherwise I think we could have had a nice race with some solid points."
Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn was also unimpressed with Senna.
"Michael had a good battle with Senna in the early laps, and his pass at the start of lap 10 was clear-cut," said Brawn.
"However, Senna showed his inexperience trying to defend a position that he had already lost, and the contact ruined Michael's race."
Senna admitted his home race - which he had started from a promising ninth on the grid - had become a bit of a disaster.
"What can I say - it's been quite a difficult day and the overall feeling is one of disappointment," he said.
"I started the race in a healthy position on the grid and I was hoping to capitalise on that.
"There were many difficulties preventing us from having a better race, namely the incident with Michael and the gearbox problems.
"I would love to have given my home fans something to smile about, but unfortunately it was not to be."
Despite Schumacher's year ending in such frustrating fashion, Brawn was pleased by how quick the German was after his delay, especially as Nico Rosberg had struggled for pace on the way to seventh in the sister car.
"Michael was able to demonstrate the car's innate pace, thanks to a better car balance, and his lap times looked reasonably competitive," Brawn noted.