Schu brushes off yellow flag suggestion

Schumacher passed the Frenchman on the start/finish straight, just before a waved yellow flag which was protecting marshals who were retrieving the stranded Ferrari of his team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

"I know I have overtaken Panis, but well before the yellow flag started," said Schumacher. "I knew where the yellow flag started. I was past by that time. The nose was in front, so no problem. I braked early enough and was safe for the accident [at the following corner]."

Schumacher also cleared up why his left sidepod sported a tyre mark from another car.

"I had a little incident with David, when I was already inside [him]," he said. "I was basically through, then he just closed the door. So that meant that we hit each other. It was very tight. I could have easily lost my nose by that stage. I don't know what went through him.

"Usually when you're that far inside, you just leave a little bit of room to survive. But he just pushed me inside. I touched the kerb. I had no option. But, you know, that's the way it is."