A very unhappy Mark Webber has branded his reprimand for hitching a ride with Fernando Alonso after the Singapore GP, as “comical”.

Having retired from the race on the final lap following a gearbox failure, Webber jogged out to Alonso on the slowing down lap and hitched a ride on Alonso’s F138 to return to the pits.

The stewards issued him with a reprimand for “entering the track without the permission of the marshals” and as it was his third reprimand of the year, Webber will suffer a 10 place grid penalty at the Korean Grand Prix.

Alonso was also reprimanded for stopping at an unsafe place which, when reviewing the video footage of the incident, one can see was in fact the case. Both Mercedes drivers needed to take avoiding action – veering off line – since Alonso had stopped on the exit of a blind corner, on the racing line.

Nico Rosberg narrowly avoided hitting the Ferrari as it slowed down for Webber in the middle of the road. Lewis Hamilton, who had to swerve on to the escape road, told SkySportsF1 that he thought hitching rides should be allowed in future, but should only be done in a safe manner – without stopping on the racing line.

“I was doing my in-lap and came round the corner and Fernando was there – I was really shocked,” Hamilton said. “If Mark was walking across where I went, I would have run him over. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. I think it’s good for fans to see but as long as it’s done in a safe manner, where we don’t stop on the racing line, maybe it should be allowed for the future.”

Mark Webber clearly thinks that either driver getting reprimanded is wrong. In a series of tweets on Twitter, Webber made his feelings around the situation known. “For @alo_oficial and me to receive reprimands for our actions after the race it is comical to say the least. Great moment, and fans loved it,” he wrote. “And while I’m at it, contrary to reports, there was no interaction at all with any track officials after we put the fire out.”

Webber then posted a picture montage of previous occasions when drivers had hitched a lift back to the pits, before highlighting a photo apparently showing Derek Warwick, one of the Singapore race stewards who handed out the controversial penalty, riding on the side of a Ferrari. “Looks like even one of the Singapore stewards has done it,” Webber commented.

Jenson Button also took time to make his feelings known on Twitter saying, “Disappointed to see the penalties for @AussieGrit and @alo_oficial, act of sportsmanship should not really be punished.”

Button did however, go on to admit that Alonso could have stopped in a safer place before picking Webber up. “Maybe @alo_oficial could have stopped in a slightly safer place but still think it’s a bit harsh..” Button said.

The FIA are set to brief all drivers on the situation in the coming weeks leading up to the Korean Grand Prix.