BMW suffers from first corner incidents

Kubica and Heidfeld finished 18th and 19th respectively after both having to make pitstops for new front wings early in the race.

"It was clear the danger of a collision would be higher the further down the grid we were," said Theissen. "As we feared, both our drivers had early collisions and as a result the race was practically over.

"During the pitstops, we gave them a lot of fuel and sent them out with hard tyres, because the only chance of getting back into the race would have been during a safety car period. But even if this had happened, scoring a point would have been impossible."

Heidfeld described the race as disastrous after finishing last.

"The result is a disaster," said Heidfeld. "We were unlucky with the collision in the first corner. At first, I thought the suspension was broken, but I only had to have a new nose fitted in the pits. It is another race to forget."

Kubica, who also spun after a clash with the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima late in the race, said that a communication problem with the pit-crew cost him even more time, as he wasn't able to pit at the end of the first lap.

"My race was destroyed after corner one," said Kubica. "I was between Nick and another car. We touched each other and I destroyed my front wing.

"Then, after the crash, there was a miscommunication with the pit crew. I asked to come in straight away, but was only able to pit after the second lap."

The team is hoping that its development package, which will be introduced at next month's Spanish Grand Prix, will lift its performance after failing to score in the last two races.