Fisichella Blames Frentzen for Missing Out on Top Ten

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella blamed German Heinz-Harald Frentzen for holding him up in his final run during today's qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Jordan driver Fisichella, struggling this season with the Honda-powered EJ12, wound up 15th quickest after the hour-long session, but the disappointed Italian claimed he could have made it into the top ten had Arrows driver Frentzen not held him up.

"We had a difficult qualifying session today, with quite a few problems," said Fisichella after the session was over. "We put on new tyres and it seemed fairly good but I think the scrubbed front set-up was quicker.

"At the very end of the session I was doing my quickest lap, which I believe would have put me in the top 10 or 12, and I was held up by Frentzen moving quite slowly. I don't know why, but he wouldn't move out of the way and that held me up."

Fisichella's teammate Takuma Sato completed a poor day for the Silverstone-based team, setting the 18th quickest time of the session.