Q & A with David Coulthard

David Coulthard: Obviously I lost control of the car when I hit the brakes - but I don't know exactly why I lost the rear. I have braked many times into that chicane without problems. The team will look at all the data, and try and understand that everything was in good shape. But until they say otherwise, I just have to presume that I lost the rear.

Q. Did the wheel touch your helmet? Were you scared?

DC: Yeah you have time to be scared, because you know it is going to hurt. The big thing was missing the end of the barrier - which I had no control over - that Jenson Button and Karl Wendlinger hit. That would have been hard. And at that speed, you don't take a lot of speed off. So I was very lucky to go down the escape road.

Q. Is that the worst place to have the accident?

DC: Yeah for sure. That is the worst place on this track - you are over 180mph and when you lose a corner, the car doesn't slow down as you have no brakes. So I was very lucky today - and we just have to rebuild the car and go for it tomorrow.

Q. Did you go to the medical centre?

DC: Yeah. They said I was still crazy - so that's all okay.

Q. The car will be okay for tomorrow though?

DC: Yeah, I trust in the guys. They will rebuild the car and give me the best chance. I will go fill it up with fuel and we will see what we can do.

Q. You have had races here where you have overtaken people and come to the front. What are you expecting from the race?

DC: If cars run reliably then points will be difficult. We saw that last year in Monaco, because nearly all the cars finished. But you've got to think with the weather the way it is, it is going to be an unpredictable race - and points are there to get.

Q. You've had a few accidents over the years. Where does this one rate?

DC: This was one of the biggest hits actually - although it doesn't look like much from the outside. It really hurts when you hit the barrier and I would not want to be an IndyCar driver hitting the wall - because today was hard enough. I wouldn't have wanted more than that.

After the first impact, I wished I was anywhere other than being strapped in a racing car. What I know, which you guys haven't experienced, is that when you lose a corner you lose the brakes. The corner has gone, so the fluid is open - you are pushing the brake pedal but there is nothing. At that point it is the luck of the gods whether you hit one wall or another wall - and today obviously I was lucky.

Q. Did you get any time to react?

DC: The second hit, when I got to the end of the run off area, I put my head against the headrest and I was ready for the impact. Then you don't get the whiplash - but the first hit you don't get a chance. I hit my elbow on something, but it is not too bad.

I have a sore head and a sore elbow, but I don't want to go to the medical centre and get hooked up to stuff. I will see how I feel tomorrow, but I think I will be okay.

Q. Did you see the wheel right in front of your head?

DC: I saw it, it was right there - so I can tell you what Bridgestone rubber looks like. The other wheel didn't stay, but thankfully it stayed down. If it goes bouncing then it is a risk for the crowd. At those speeds, it is a high-speed impact so they have to take a lot of load.

Q. It is a huge reminder about how there is no room at Monaco, isn't it?

DC: Yes, that is what makes it the ultimate challenge. And we should never forget that with all the politics and hoo-ha about F1 - it is a dangerous business and we are just one moment from having a big one. That is why all the drivers need to be together in the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) and the FIA need to continue what they are doing.

You saw with Heikki Kovalainen (in Barcelona) - his chassis was broken and his pedals were hanging out. That is despite great effort from McLaren and the FIA crash tests. It is just a matter of time until we have the big shunt and someone is injured - and we should never forget that in all these things. But whilst we don't have it, we should rejoice that F1 is as strong and safe as it is today because we are all still standing here.