Jaguar's final race ends in tears

Webber, confident and with a quick car, was pushing hard to make his way into the points after a pitstop and dove down the inside of his team-mate at the first corner, but Klien closed the door and both cars went off the track. Klien did manage to finish in 15th.

"I was planning on making my way up the grid and I managed this for the first few laps as I was in ninth position by lap four, I then pitted for new tyres and lost some time as I had to queue up behind Christian," said Webber, who sat out the race at the scene of his accident rather than walking back to the pits, such was his disappointment. "We were back out quick enough and I started racing again and went to overtake Christian on lap 24. Unfortunately we tangled as he appeared not to see me coming and that was the end of my race.

"A sad end to what should have been a more rewarding race. I have had an amazing two years with Jaguar Racing and I am fortunate enough to have had the pleasure to work with some incredibly talented people during this time. I have learnt a lot and shared a lot and it is with a heavy heart that not only do I leave the team but that the team is to close as Jaguar Racing."

Klien was surprised that Webber had tried to pass when he did: "Mark was coming closer to me and I saw him in my mirror but I did not think he was close enough to overtake but he tried it and we collided. The remainder of my race saw my car not as well balanced as it should have been and although the car was okay for the remainder of the race it was not as easy to drive."

There was one consolation for the team, which managed to salvage the seventh position in the constructors' championship it had been contesting with Toyota. Nevertheless there was no hiding the sadness and disappointment that Jaguar will be closing its doors after five unfulfilled years in Formula 1.

"The remarkable spirit of Jaguar Racing has been highlighted this weekend by the number of compliments I have received from other teams, media and sponsors praising the unswerving motivation and good humour that the team has portrayed over the last few races," said Jaguar's Tony Purnell. "I am honestly inspired by the attitude of this team that has rallied round to split the Ferraris on the grid in Malaysia, fight the BMW-Williams in Hockenheim and beat the McLarens in Bahrain.

"The men and women of Jaguar Racing have achieved more in the last two years than we thought possible and they give every other team on the grid a run for their money when it comes to commitment and loyalty. We have here today a team that epitomises what Formula should be about, team-spirit, hard-work and pure grit determination, surely a winning combination. Jaguar has a magnificent motorsport heritage and one that deserves to live on as there is no doubt that racing and winning are and should be synonymous with Jaguar."all their work over the years and let's see what the future holds."