Frentzen hits out at Audi team

Frentzen started the race from pole, but he eventually retired after a collision with teammate Mattias Ekstrom. He was also upset with his team's pit strategy.

"This shows how much people like me in this team," the German said in TV interviews after the race. "I have to think about the consequences of this now."

Audi's Head of Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich confirmed that a decision on the German's future would need to be taken quickly.

"I'm disappointed by Heinz-Harald," he said. "Making accusations in public is not Audi's style, and we are now going to take a quick decision as to whether or not there will be a joint future for Heinz-Harald and Audi."

Ullrich also denied that Frentzen had been treated poorly by Audi this year.

"Everyone at Audi has been fully committed to enabling Heinz-Harald to achieve good results. He had the same equipment as his team mates and the full support of the entire team in a season that was difficult for us.

"We assume that Heinz-Harald made his comment as an initial response to the disappointment he suffered and will see things differently with a certain detachment."