Mixed Emotions for Toyota Drivers

Schumacher's weekend had got off to a pretty bad start with a half-second grid penalty for a tyre infringement and then a crash in first qualifying that put him to the back of the field - but it all went right in the race.

"It's a pity about what happened on Saturday because I could have ended up with even more points, but I had a very good day today," he said afterwards. "In the early laps I passed a few slower cars into Mirabeau, then I was held up in traffic. After the safety car period I began moving through the field.

"Then at the end I was in a long chain of cars behind Alonso who was going slowly. With the Ferraris behind me it was a bit difficult. Then Michael made rather a strong move on the line and we nearly crashed. Still, it's great to end up with three points."

Trulli's afternoon, however, did not go to plan, as he lost a strategy advantage due to the Safety Car, and then damaged his TF105 after an audacious overtaking move past Giancarlo Fisichella at the hairpin.

"I made a good start and I was doing a very good race at the beginning, keeping the pace," explained Trulli. "We were on a one-stop strategy so I was pushing 100 percent while taking care of the fuel. It wasn't easy but I was doing well.

"Unfortunately when I came out from my own pit stop I spent the second half of the race behind Fisichella who was struggling with his tyres and losing several seconds per lap. That meant I lost position on the two Williams as well. Then Giancarlo made a mistake into Mirabeau and I was able to overtake him into the Loews hairpin.

"But I hit the inside kerb which made my car feel unbalanced at the end. I came into the pits to check the problem and that moved me out of the points."