Coulthard Upset by Alonso's Driving

David Coulthard fought to control his emotions after he claimed Spaniard Fernando Alonso forced him to take high-speed avoiding action and crash out of a dramatic European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

The Scot, struggling to find his form and build a title challenge this year, claimed he was 'brake-tested' by the 21-year-old Spaniard as he searched for an overtaking opportunity and ended up spinning off in a cloud of dust and gravel at 175 mph.

"I'd be disappointed to think it was anything deliberate," said Coulthard. "It's not like I just locked up and decided to turn right off the circuit to avoid hitting him. I never even braked before I nearly hit him and had to swerve off the circuit - and we know from my data that that was ten metres earlier than it was on the lap before.

"You just have to trust the guys you are racing with - I have no reason not to trust Fernando. I don't want just to be negative and create a scandal, but I was very shocked to see how early he braked for that corner. That is a very difficult thing to deal with.

"He still gets the points and I am the silly one because I have gone off the circuit, but putting all that to one side I would rather have a go and cock it up and end up in the gravel knowing I was trying to get by him."

Alonso, however, refused to accept responsibility for Coulthard's high-speed exit after being questioned by stewards after the race.

The Renault driver, who held on to take fourth place despite being caught by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, insisted that any early braking was simply the result of technical problems on his car rather than a bid to upset Coulthard's challenge.

"The stewards wanted to know what happened," said Alonso. "I told them I was having a few problems and slowed down a bit earlier on that lap. But there were no serious problems with the tyres or the car. David got a bit too close to me I think."

Alonso was backed by team principal Flavio Briatore, who added: "Alonso was a bit slower but it was nothing serious. Coulthard tried to pass him and got too near and he lost it. There was nothing wrong with Fernando's car. He drove a great race and we are very happy with the result."