Schumacher Baffled by Tyre Problems

The seven-times World Champion had a tyre nightmare, retiring for the third time in five races, while his teammate Rubens Barrichello was lapped by race winner Kimi Raikkonen at half distance on an afternoon to forget for Ferrari.

The race ended Schumacher's hopes of a record-equalling success in Barcelona.

Schumacher had won the last four Spanish Grands Prix and another win would have equalled the record of five in a row at a single venue set by the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna at Monaco from 1989-1993.

"I could guess I may have picked up some debris, that is the only explanation, the front left, rear left, is a bit unusual," said Schumacher after the race.

"We had no problems on tyre wear, all the tyres looked in very good shape, honestly, and we would have been competitive in the end.

"It would be ideal to have the same pace at the beginning and the end but sometimes you cannot have everything."

The result has left Schumacher 34 points behind Championship leader Fernando Alonso.