Tyre Problems Cost Sauber Drivers

Sauber drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa blamed tyre graining for not obtaining a better result at today's Chinese Grand Prix.

"I'm happy with seventh place, because my tyres were graining really badly from the start," said Italian Fisichella after finishing in a point-scoring position for the fourth consecutive race.

"After each stop the car was very, very competitive on new tyres and the balance came back again, but when the tyres started graining I was two seconds slower than the car's true potential.

"Considering all that, scoring points with both cars is a great result."

Brazilian Massa finished down in eighth place after taking the start from fourth position, the Sauber driver also struggling with this Bridgestone tyres.

"I had a fantastic opening lap," said Massa. "I really enjoyed my fight with Button and was very happy to overtake him again after he had gone past me. But after two laps I had incredible graining on the tyres and the car was understeering so much I was holding everyone up.

"I'm actually surprised that I didn't lose more places. After the stops I could push hard again and catch up, but over the final seven laps I had a flat spot on a front tyre and it was so difficult turning into right-hand corners that I was afraid I might not finish.

"It was a good fight with Coulthard at the end, and I'm happy to score another point in the circumstances."