Drivers Welcome Additional Imola Points

McLaren's Alex Wurz has moved up one place, from fourth to third, while Sauber's Jacques Villeneuve, Toyota's Jarno Trulli, both Williams drivers Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld, as well as Red Bull debutant Vitantonio Liuzzi - all moved up two places, after Jenson Button and Takuma Sato lost their third and fifth respective finishes.

Red Bull's Liuzzi, who has now scored his first ever Formula One point, said he would have preferred to score that point under different circumstances but nevertheless welcomed his entry to the Championship standings table.

"It would have been nicer to score that point on the track, but I still have the satisfaction of having entered the Championship table immediately," Liuzzi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I couldn't have asked for more in a debut."

Sauber's Jacques Villeneuve earned two additional Championship points, which were gladly received by his boss, Peter Sauber.

"At this time one year ago we only had one point in the Championship, while now we have seven," Sauber told the newspaper, adding: "Bravo Jacques!"

Villeneuve himself said: "I've never scored two points as easy as these," the Canadian joked. "So, without doing anything I've gone from three to five, how nice! It must be at least three years since I last brought home so many points in just one race."

Villeneuve, who raced for BAR from 1999 to 2003 and left the team on acrimonious terms, nevertheless avoided criticising his former team. "I can't possibly know what the situation is at BAR, but if they really rigged something in the car then the punishment is right," Villeneuve said.

"If instead it was a mistake then it is too heavy. But I'm not the judge."