McLaren Put Brave Face after 'Painful' Day

McLaren endured a nightmare European Grand Prix after both Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard retired with engine failures before the halfway mark.

Former champions McLaren have just five points from seven races with Raikkonen, last year's overall runner-up, scoring only one so far. The Finn pulled over and put his hands on his helmet in frustration after a familiar cloud of smoke billowed out of the rear of his Mercedes-powered car with 10 laps gone.

Briton Coulthard had a similar problem 16 laps later, driving straight off the track and through a gate in the fence to a waiting recovery truck.

"It's bitterly disappointing when these situations keep happening," Coulthard said. "It's a family show so I better not tell you what I was thinking. It's very frustrating."

The Scot, who had started at the back of the grid after his engine also failed in Saturday qualifying, jumped in the cab and waved to fans as he was driven back to the paddock.

"It was a real roller-coaster," he said. "It's disappointing because we were at a good enough pace to score some points. Unfortunately, the reliability isn't there. Unfortunately, engine failure put us out."

Raikkonen had been running in second place before his first pitstop after qualifying fourth, struggling McLaren's highest grid position of the year.

First Pole

His engine also blew last year at the Nurburgring after he secured his first Formula One pole and led the race at Mercedes' home circuit. Raikkonen has finished two races this year, Coulthard four. McLaren boss Ron Dennis, however, tried to be positive about the double engine failure.

"This was a step in the right direction," he said. "At the end of the day, motor racing is about winning. Of course we want to finish and get points. But do I really mind if we're fourth or fifth? No, I'm here to win.

"To catch up you have to take risks and push and take the embarrassments that are associated when you take risks," he added. "But those are completely forgotten when you're in the winner's circle, and that's where we intend to be."

Dennis said there would be no finger-pointing at Mercedes, adding that the entire team had lost.

"Anybody who writes off any part of our organisation is short-sighted," he said. "All teams find themselves in this situation. Often they pull each other apart...we have no intention of that.

"We are more competitive than at the last Grand Prix," he added. "But to finish first you first have to finish. It's painful to take these setbacks. All my colleagues at Mercedes and McLaren understand what we have to do."