Heidfeld says he could have been fifth

A driving error during his fastest lap, however, cost the German driver a lot of time and he had to settle for 10th position.

Heidfeld gave the BMW team a promising start by making it to the final session, and although he admitted he was pleased with his performance he was left lamenting the error in the dying moments of qualifying.

"To start with, it was great that I was able to make it to the final part of qualifying," Heidfeld said. "It was quite tricky to find the right set-up this afternoon in order to get the best out of the tyres over just one lap. But that worked well for us in the first 15 minute session, better still in the second and even better in the final part.

"The first two sectors of my lap were very good, but then I pushed a little too hard in Turn 13. I braked late and as I came off the racing line I lost a lot of time. Otherwise I could have qualified as high as fifth, so naturally I am a little disappointed."

Heidfeld outqualified teammate Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian unable to make the second cut after he failed to complete a second flying time when he left the pits too late.

The former world champion will start from 11th.

"Our initial strategy for the second session was to do only one run at the end when the track should have been at its best, but then we changed to one run at the beginning and one at the end," he said.

"Unfortunately I left the pits too late and could only do one lap before the finish, and today the time always came on the second lap."