Josh Files has been given a reprimand and a suspended three-place grid drop until tomorrow’s race for contact with fellow Honda driver Stefano Comini.

The Brit and the Swiss came together at La Source, after which both cars took damaged and were forced to retire.

“Stefano defended really hard,” said the Brit to TouringCarTimes. “I had hoped he’d realise I was faster and just come with me in my slipstream to try and catch Dusan (Borkovic). The cars behind were catching up really quickly. I made a move at Bus Stop and made a mistake. I rejoined the track safely and let Stefano back through, as I knew I had to do.”

After letting the Swiss through, Files found himself defending from Cupra’s Stian Paulsen, who was trying to make the best out of the situation.

“Stian came down the inside from nowhere, and I think he actually braked a bit too late. Comini was completely on the outside, which is the normal racing line. I couldn’t turn in because Paulsen was there, at the same time Comini turned in, so I just had nowhere to go. I hit Stefano, although I tried to avoid it.”

The Brit believes Paulsen would have hit Comini anyway, and it was a racing incident.

“It was either me or Stian hitting him really, it was unlucky it was me, but I think it was a racing incident. I’m sorry because I’m out, I’m sorry for the boys and the work they have to do, and obviously I’m sorry Stefano was out as well. We do have the best Honda here, so we’ll make up for this disappointment tomorrow.”

On the other hand, Comini thinks he couldn’t have avoided the incident.

“I know some people have accused me of shutting the door too hard on Josh,” said the Swiss to TouringCarTimes. “After he let me through when he cut the chicane, he went completely on the inside and I lost sight of him, as I was on the outside. Normally, having more momentum, I should have been ahead of him. Had I had any doubts he could dive on the inside, even for a single moment, I would have closed the door on him on the straight, not in the corner.”

The Honda driver also believes he couldn’t have done anything differently, as there was no way he could have taken a different line in that situation.

“I just took my ordinary racing line. There was no way I could have done La Source assuming someone was attacking me on the inside, because I would have compromised the exit out of it and suffered all the way to the Kemmel straight. I don’t feel guilty at all, perhaps Josh could have avoided this, but for sure I’m not blaming myself. We will try to do better tomorrow. I’m sorry for Autodis, THX and Honda, all I can do is promise them I will fight back tomorrow in Race 2.”