Alesi furious after spin

The emotional Italian claimed he had already been blocked once by the world champion before he spun out in front of the Finn in the final moments of qualifying.

Hakkinen admitted he slowed out of the final chicane to get a good run at his final chance to take pole position from Michael Schumacher.

Unwittingly he blocked the furious Sauber ace who was on his last flying lap.

Alesi was forced to take avoiding action and jumped the Casio Triangle chicane to avoid ramming Hakkinen from behind.

'The FIA should really look very closely at what is happening on the track,' he said.

'Hakkinen had already blocked me during his third run and then on the last one he kept me behind him all the way from the hairpin down to the chicane even though I was on a quick lap and he wasn't.

'It was absolutely unbelievable, especially in the championship situation McLaren find themselves in.

'My time was going to be quicker for sure, but when he got to the chicane he suddenly slowed and to avoid going under his back wing I had to ride the chicane completely across the grass.

'My tyres got dirty so I spun when I got back on the track. My lap was over with just the chicane t go. I probably lost sixth place.'

Teammate Pedro Diniz starts 16th.