Ralf warned over conduct

Both drivers were summoned to meet the stewards after the race and BAR's Sato said that they were happy with his explanation of the incident that pitched the German off the track.

Sato improved his best ever F1 qualifying performance by two positions when he lined up fifth in Bahrain, then went on to equal his best ever finish (Suzuka in 2002) when he finished in fifth pace.

"It was a racing incident," said Schumacher. "He was a bit optimistic to think that he could immediately get back the position he had just lost."

Sato saw it differently: "We were side-by-side going into Turn 2 and he didn't even give me an inch, he just came towards me."

Under the new system of considering possible penalties after the event, the race stewards announced that they would be investigating the incident. On his return from the stewards' office, however, Sato was confident of no further action.

"Later in the race I had the same situation with David Coulthard but obviously I left a car's width for him on the track and still managed to overtake him," he added. "I explained that to the stewards and they said that they were happy and that there was no need to look further at the incident."