Montoya admits driver error

At first it looked as if the traction control system on the Williams had failed to kick in, as it went into a graceful pirouette on the way to Turn Two. "I had the lead after my second pit stop," said Montoya, "then, as I went into Turn One and picked up the throttle, the car just turned on me. My fault."

The Colombian did not think the spin was the result of a decision not to change his tyres in the second pit stop. "On new tyres the balance was a disaster so I decided not to change tyres again. I still think it was the right thing to do. Basically, shit happens."

It was the last of a series of setbacks that Montoya had already endured. Things started to go against him early on when he was robbed, twice, of a leading margin by the appearance of the safety car.

"I think it was truly a disaster of a race. We took the right tyres, I had a 16 second lead and everything was going my way, and then the safety car came out. Then we went again and I had another good lead and the safety car came again, so I pretty much got screwed twice."