Sauber Says Incident is 'Depressing'

The Swiss team boss's two drivers had been battling for a finish in the top six when the pair were involved in an incident at Ste. Devote after Villeneuve made a botch of a move past Massa and hit the barriers.

Sauber was not dramatically critical of his drivers, but he is well aware that the points the incident cost the team could prove crucial in the Constructors' Championship fight.

"We had a perfect strategy for the race today and some very good work by the pit crew brought us up to a very strong position after the first incident that brought out the Safety Car," said Sauber.

"However, the incident caused by Jacques cost us five valuable Championship points that would have enabled us to close the gap on our direct competitor, Red Bull. What happened today is the most depressing thing that a team can experience."

With Massa admitting that he was more angry with the fact his tyres were going off than with his teammate over the incident, Villeneuve has equally trying not to get too upset about what happened.

"Our strategy today was very good, and to begin with my plan was to save the tyres as I had plenty of fuel on board," said Villeneuve.

"But then I got really messed up with the incident at Mirabeau on lap 25. Felipe was able to get through a gap and make his pit stop, but I got badly held up and there was no point in refuelling then because I was on a long run strategy, so really I got nothing out of the situation.

"Towards the end I caught up with Felipe again and I could see that his rear tyres were finished, whereas my car felt pretty much as good as it had been all through the race. I was told to reduce the gap to the guys in front of me because a lot of us were closing up in the fight for points, and I tried something that unfortunately didn't work."