More misery for Webber and Williams

The Williams driver completed a strong performance, managing to run in third position before dropping down to fifth.

A water leak in his engine, however, put an end to his hopes with just eight laps remaining.

"It was a promising race but a disappointing ending," said Webber, who last scored points in the San Marino Grand Prix.

"I had a really good start and climbed from 11th to sixth after lap one and the stint went well. I had a big fight with Rubens who got me in the end, but I knew he was lighter and had to stop before me.

"After the first pitstop I passed Fisichella on the track and was on the limit until the second stop. After that, things started to go wrong - I lost a bit of balance on the car and then suddenly started to lose engine power quickly.

"It seems we had a water leak, which of course is terminal for an engine and it was all over eight laps from the end."

Webber's retirement followed on from teammate Nico Rosberg's accident on the opening lap, where the German driver lost control of his car and crashed against the wall.

"It was very disappointing not to fully participate in the race because it looked like a lot of fun to be racing here today in front of a home crowd," he said. "The car has been good for most of the weekend and I wanted to move up the field as quickly as possible.

"I lost the rear in the Motodrome but didn't really feel it coming - I probably overdid it because I wanted to get too much out of the first lap."

The double retirement means Williams have now gone seven races without scoring a point, equalling their worst streak from 1984.