Jacques 'surprised' at red flag decision

Schumacher, the reigning world champion and 2001 champion-elect, was handed a second stab at victory after crashing out at the first bend when stewards ordered a re-start.

Villeneuve is renowned for his outspoken and forthright views on matters of safety, but his comments could be interpreted as a jibe against the sport's governing body, the FIA, which has often been accused of favouring Ferrari.

Schumacher had triggered the accident when he slowed off the startline with gear selection problems and was rammed violently from behind by Luciano Burti, launching the Prost over the Ferrari and onto the Arrows of Enrique Bernoldi.

The safety car was brought out and circled once, forcing the drivers to gamble on a puncture as they picked their way through the shards of carbon fibre and other debris on the track. Only on the next lap did the red flag come out.

Schumacher, who was ambling back to the Ferrari garage on foot, suddenly broke into a sprint to get to the spare and left the pits in time to take-up his fourth place for the re-start.

"I was surprised to see the red flag," said Villeneuve. "We had gone through the debris once so the track was clean and the most dangerous part of the race is the start and that was over, so I was really, really surprised they decided to make us do it again."

The Canadian, who roundly criticised his team's lack of progress on Friday just 24 hours after re-signing for another season, was pleased with his unexpected helping of points, given that he started way back in 12th.

"I must admit I am surprised to be on the podium," he said. "I was hoping for points and knew I needed luck for that.

"We have not been very competitive all week, but in the warm-up we were really competitive with fuel on board and knew we had a chance of a good race.

"The two starts went well, but Olivier was on two stops so I let him by to have a little fun with Jarno (Trulli of Jordan). Then I was hoping Jarno went off and he did."

The 1997 world champion was on the podium for only the second time this season - and in the points for only the third.

Ironically, the result comes two days after he told his team to write off the 2001 season as a lost cause and concentrate on getting ready for next year.