Mario Theissen, boss of BMW Sauber, has claimed that the collision between his two drivers at the start of the race cost his team a podium finish.
Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica had a clash at the second corner of the race. Both drivers then fell down the pack until the race was red-flagged due to poor weather. After the restart, both fought back to finish in the points however Theissen believes that without the tangling, they would have been fighting for a podium finish.
“It was a turbulent race with two rain periods and a lot of hectic pitstops ten in total for us,†Theissen remarked. “Our pit crew did an excellent job and was capable of handling this situation very well. Finishing sixth and seventh was not because of the weather conditions the collision in the first lap was responsible for that. In the end, that cost us a podium finish.â€
The drivers both blamed each other for the accident, with neither wanting to shoulder the blame.
“My start was not as good as usual and, unfortunately, in the first corner, Robert forced me onto the first and then again in the second corner,†Heidfeld explained. “This was when, unluckily, we touched and afterwards I had a damaged car. However, we have been lucky that the race was interrupted and we were able to repair the car. The team did a very good job. Later in the race, I was stuck behind Robert and it was only at the end when he made a mistake I was able to pass him.â€
“I made a good start,†Kubica explained. “But in the second corner I think Nick arrived a bit too fast. He touched me and I spun. I was then last.â€
