Kubica keeps title hopes alive with podium

The BMW Sauber driver recovered well after a poor qualifying, in which he had managed the 11th quickest time, and finished in third place at Monza.

The result allowed Kubica, who insisted this weekend he is still aiming to win the titles, to move 14 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton with four rounds left.

"It was quite a good weekend after yesterday in qualifying, which didn't go like we are expecting," said Kubica. "We were the first car out of Q3 so the positive thing was we could choose the strategy for how the weather was.

"I think we did the right choice. I stayed as long as possible for the pitstop and it was good the weather allowed us to put intermediates on.

"I could have a good pace and maybe close on Heikki but he was too far away. The start was very difficult. I overtook Nick without seeing him - I realised I was ahead of him and didn't realise at all (he was there)."

He added: "We were then lucky with our pit stop, because it was just the right time to change to intermediate tyres. From then on I was easily able to control my position on the track. Third place was a well deserved reward for the whole team."

Teammate Nick Heidfeld also recovered from a disappointing qualifying to make his way from 10th to fifth.

The German, however, said his race had not been to plan.

"Coming from tenth on the grid it is okay to finish fifth, but still my race wasn't ideal," he said.

"Unfortunately I lost a place to Robert right at the start. It was the right decision to let us start behind the Safety Car. When it pulled off the visibility was still so poor that I braked much too early and Robert passed me. This time it was the team who made the tyre choice.

"I left it to my race engineer as on the pit wall they had a lot more information about the weather. It was absolutely right to go for intermediates.

"Today it was important to avoid mistakes and keep the car on the track. I'm happy I had the pace to keep Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton behind me at the end. Warmest congratulations to Sebastian and the Toro Rosso team, this was a fantastic victory."