Fuel flap costs Rubens his podium chance

His quest for second place in the drivers' championship took a knock as Williams-BMW duo Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher both finished ahead of him on the podium. For the third time in consecutive races he suffered a problem before the race had even started.

"As I was going on to the grid I felt there was something not quite right on the race car," he said. "To be on the safe side, we decided to take the spare. After the start, the car was going quite well, but it was not easy for me to try and get past Ralf. When I made the second pit stop, the fuel flap on the car did not open and that cost me precious time and a place on the podium."

Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt said: "Rubens' race car had a transmission problem, and we decided to switch him to the spare. Then, he had a refuelling problem, which meant fourth place was the best he could do, at the end of a race during which he gave his all. We will continue to give all possible support to Rubens in the fight for second place in the drivers' championship."