'Lucky' Coulthard welcomes points

"My car's looking pretty sorry for itself to be honest," said Coulthard, who went on to finish in fifth position.

"I came together with Kubica in the first corner and lost the side of my end plate, and then later with (Michael) Schumacher when he spun, which broke the side of the car a little bit too.

"Rubens (Barrichello) banged wheels with me at the chicane and then Trulli came down the inside of me and nearly hit me. So, with everything we had going on, I realise I was pretty lucky to finish and especially to get some points.

"It's good to extend our position over Williams."

Coulthard, the last Briton to win a race before Jenson Button scored his maiden victory today, admitted he was happy for the Honda driver.

"I'd like to say big congratulations to Jenson Button too. I've always been in the camp of those who believed that he undoubtedly had the ability to win, he just needed the right circumstance.

"Today gave him that circumstance and it was long overdue. Hearty congratulations to Jenson, it's his day today."

Coulthard's teammate Christian Klien crashed out of the race on lap seven.