Frentzen Admits to Driving Error

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen admitted he was to blame for the accident that forced the Safety Car to jump onto the track at today's Monaco Grand Prix.

On the first lap of the race, the Sauber driver, starting from 15th place, went over the kerbs of the new chicane after the swimming pool complex, his out-of-control car flying straight into the barriers.

Frentzen's car came to a halt in the middle of the road, and the race director was forced to deploy the Safety Car.

"I simply made a mistake and went too fast into the new chicane," admitted Frentzen. "The car's undertray touched the kerb and the front tyres didn't have enough grip, so I went into the barrier.

"It is a shame that I had to finish the race in this way, because we were on a one-stop strategy. I live here and until the next Monaco Grand Prix I will be annoyed with myself every time I pass this place."

Frentzen's teammate Nick Heidfeld managed to get to the end of the race, albeit outside the points in 11th position.

"Things went okay until after my first pit stop, when I got stuck behind Verstappen which cost me a lot of time," said Heidfeld. "Then on my third set of tyres it took quite a long while to find a good balance and I suffered from understeer.

"But in general the car was good. However, all the top teams finished strongly so for me it was quite impossible to get into the points."