Coulthard angered by Alonso incident

Coulthard crashed out of the European Grand Prix four laps from the end while trying to relieve Alonso of fourth place. The Spaniard's Renault appeared to slow in the middle of the road sending the McLaren spectacularly into the gravel trap as DC took evasive action. Alonso claimed that tyre problems were forcing him to brake early.

"I'm not trying to do the 'he's an idiot and I'm going to sort him out' bit, because he may genuinely have been having problems," Coulthard said, "but it was inconsistent the problem he was having, which made it difficult for me to race with him.

"I'm the one who pays the price and it doesn't affect his weekend, so he's achieved his goal. There's not been any indication in his F1 career so far of any reason to doubt that he's a talented, fast, safe racing driver -- other than maybe what I've seen today..."

The Scot alluded to more than the one incident. "There were three," he said. "There was the last corner, where I nearly hit the back of him, and there was Turn 8, when we lapped the Jordan. I'd be interested to see what the marshals' report from there is. I was able to go off the circuit into T8, go down the side of the grass and gravel and rejoin the track because he braked so early. Again, he seemed to go to the middle of the circuit and lift off the power."

The Scot defended his attempts to pass the Renault. "I'd rather have a go, cock it up and end up in the gravel and know I was trying," he said.