Petrov: Marbles a factor in crash

The Russian ran wide at Turn 8 near the end of the race - but as he tried to power back onto the track he hit a bump in the grass that launched him high into the air.

The impact when he landed broke a steering column mount and Petrov was forced to retire on the spot.

Petrov said he was not entirely sure what had caused the accident - but thinks that a chunk of rubber marble may have contributed.

"To be honest I still don't understand what I did," Petrov told AUTOSPORT. "The corner is difficult, but to be honest you try to not win so much on this corner.

"There were two laps to go. I knew Lewis [Hamilton] was behind me, and I knew the tyres were quite good as I showed the fastest laps.

"I think I picked up just a little bit of rubber, and as soon as you take one piece of rubber, you have a little bit of understeer. I think I had this little bit of understeer and then I went wider and wider. You should be able to come back to the track there, so I just kept going - but then I hit the big bump."

Although Petrov's launch into the air looked spectacular, the Renault driver insists he was not scared.

"It is not scary. You know it will be a big shunt but it is scarier when you see a wall when you are crashing."

Petrov does believe, however, that the bump he hit should be looked at - because it could cause another accident in the future.

"I know it is difficult, but it should be less bumpy - because can you imagine what would have happened if something happened differently. You could have quite a big crash."