Stake boss Jonathan Whealtey has rejected the suggestion that Gabriel Bortoleto needs to "slow down" after his costly Las Vegas mistake.
At Turn 1 in Sin City, Bortoleto locked up after getting too deep and rammed into the side of the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.
The Canadian was eliminated immediately, with reigning F2 champion Bortoleto stopping at the end of the second lap - for his second straight DNF after first lap contact, ironically being taken out by Stroll on Lap 1 in Brazil.
However, reflecting on the error by the rookie, Wheatley was firm that telling Bortoleto to slow down would not be an option, as he praised his "humility" in seeking Stroll out and apologising to him.
"Telling a racing driver to slow down is not always a successful tactic," Wheatley observed to media, including RacingNews365.
"He made a mistake, misjudged his braking point, and he actually showed real humility and went and spoke to Lance after the race to apologise.
"That shows a tremendously positive side to Gabriel and the way he handles himself in these situations. He and I had a very good conversation after the race, and the wonderful thing about F1 is that we get to do it again next weekend.
"I'm sure he'll put it behind him, and it is another learning exercise in his first year. It was a tricky weekend, but I was impressed with his performance.
"He kept it away from the walls, built his pace carefully and for the want of being cautious in sector one on his last timed lap, he should have progressed to Q2 easily.
"But it is easy to forget it is his first season, and it was a genuine driver error."
For his part, Bortoleto explained that: "I misjudged the braking point, and five metres earlier, I would have probably stopped the car. I am sorry for Lance; it was my fault, and I don't have much to say."
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