Heidfeld: race should not have started

The race began behind the safety car as conditions were deemed too dangerous, and racing did not get under way after a massive 19 laps.

Heidfeld's race was made even harder by the fact that his radio did not work and his engine was misfiring.

Despite that, the BMW driver went on to fight for a points finish, but he retired with two laps to go while running in sixth position.

"In my opinion the race should not have been started under these weather conditions," said Heidfeld. "For me it was a very difficult situation when the safety car came in after 19 laps.

"My radio didn't work and I had a misfire. Because the decision whether the safety car comes in or not is made during a lap, the team couldn't even tell me on the pit board.

"So I always tried to see the safety car which wasn't easy. Fortunately I saw when it switched off the lights to come in. Due to the misfire I was only in sixth gear on the straight which means I was relatively slow. That was very dangerous because the drivers behind me could hardly see me.

"I tried to find a line where I would be as safe as possible. That's why Kimi Raikkonen could pass me on the left hand side. I was just happy we didn't crash. But then Jenson Button crashed into my car and damaged it. First I wanted to pit but then decided I could drive the car somehow.

"Basically my race was ruined with the accident. In the end I still could have finished 6th, but then my car broke down."

Robert Kubica agreed with his teammate that the race should not have started under those conditions, and the Pole too had an eventful Grand Prix.

Kubica finished in seventh place after a tough battle with Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the final lap.

"Unfortunately the beginning of the race was very risky and for me the decision to race was a bit too early, as it was difficult to see 50 metres in front," said Kubica. "Anyway we had some problems with the water coming into the air filter and into the engine, so I lost a position at the start because I had no power in the engine.

"With the higher revs it cleaned up and I overtook the two Renaults. I was doing a good pace but unfortunately I touched with Lewis Hamilton, had my pit stop, then a penalty, which I was surprised to get. I was running much quicker than him and in corner 13 or 14 he was doing a completely different line or made a mistake, so he was completely wide.

"I stayed on the inside, he cut into the apex and I was there and unfortunately we touched. I think it was a race accident. On the re-start after the second safety car I had the misfire problem again with the water so it cost me time again as I had to stay behind Rubens Barrichello.

"Then the finish was the fight with Felipe Massa, which was a bit risky. He overtook me before corner six, then I overtook him back and then into corner ten if I had turned normally he would have hit me and I preferred to finish the race.

"He pushed me out, I tried to overtake him on the last corner but he went wide and there was more grip off the track and he won the position. We made a bit of action and in the end we laughed."