Ferrari blamed Formula One race stewards for a potentially costly tyre error at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa began the race on intermediate tyres, but were forced to pit for wets under the safety car during the early stages of the race under instruction from FIA race director Charlie Whiting.

The tyre changes were forced after Whiting had instructed every car to start on wets as a safety issue.

But Ferrari, who saw Raikkonen and Massa drop from third and fourth places to the tail of the field, say they did not receive this instruction until after the race had started.

"After the race I heard there were some rules to force everyone to start on full wets but the FIA or race control forgot to tell our team," Raikkonen said.

"That forced us to pit behind the safety car. It cost us but not a lot. All race I could not see anything."

The team also confirmed that they received email notification of the instruction on lap two of the race and were then told to swap tyres or have both drivers disqualified.

A spokesperson said: "Now there's nothing we can do," he said. "It's not the e-mail itself, it's the communication.

"When after five laps the driver is asked to come back because he is forced to change the tyres, and then he is 21st, then your race is spoiled. It's as simple as that."

Both drivers were put on the back foot as a result, and had to come up through the field to salvage third and sixth places.

The results ended Massa's hopes of winning the world title and leaves Raikkonen with only a slim chance as he now trails leader Lewis Hamilton by 17 points with only 20 up for grabs in the final two races.

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport