Ralf: It was all going so well…

The result is a major blow to the Williams team's hopes of snatching the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari, although some consolation can be gained from the performance of Juan Pablo Montoya. The Colombian will start second, having completed his lap before the rain started falling heavily.

"Everything was going so perfectly this weekend, even after this morning's session," lamented Ralf. "I just had bad luck with the weather conditions in qualifying. I tried to make the best of it, but it just did not work out. It was actually useless, I could have come in straight away. Then I eventually spun.

"I will have to start from the back of the grid and it will be very difficult to overtake and it is going to be a tough race. We need points for the Constructors' Championship and I'll fight hard, but that is the way it is today."

With Michael Schumacher also out of place in 14th on the grid, the battle for the title is still open heading into the race, although the threat of more rain tomorrow is weighing on the mind of BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen.

"For Sunday changeable weather conditions are predicted too," said Theissen. "Therefore it is impossible to predict the outcome of the race or the Constructors' Championship."