Herbert fuming after qualifying nightmare

While new team-mate Eddie Irvine put his car seventh on the grid, Herbert saw his Jaguar break down for the second time in two days.

He ended up a lowly 20th on the grid, with only Jenson Button and Gaston Mazzacane behind him.

'This is the worst pre-race build-up I can remember,' said Herbert. 'On my first lap I was taking it easy when the car cut out on turn two.

'Then the spare lost the power steering as I left the pits and I had all sorts of handling problems. The car was almost undriveable and I struggled just to get around so I could start my flying lap.

'Then I had exactly the same problems with the engine in exactly the same place on the lap!

'The whole thing is very frustrating after yesterday's problems as well. I had no chance to set a competitive time.'

Herbert had been determined to start the season well after last year's championship was blighted by similar reliability problems.

He failed to finish the first six races of the 1999 season but by the middle of the year was on the pace and took a famous victory in the European Grand Prix.