Webber Critical of Schumacher's Driving

The Williams driver and the reigning World Champion crashed into each other at Turn 12 - with Webber claiming that he chose to dive down the inside because of Schumacher's questionable behaviour.

Drivers are only supposed to make a single move to defend their position - something that Webber, who was a lap down on Schumacher, believes the German went beyond.

"I was a lap behind Michael but I was much quicker than him," he said. "I thought it was strange that he was moving around the braking area as all the drivers agree to try not to do this.

"Michael seemed quite keen to do it though so I didn't show much respect in the end when I went round the corner. We then made contact."

When asked whether he believed the incident was 50/50, Webber added: "In the end it was, but before that I think he was out of order.

"In the braking area it doesn't matter if you are a lap down or whatever. I was catching him, I was a lot quicker and I wanted to get through and get on with my race.

"The Ferraris were very, very slow and Michael was incredibly slow and I pulled out of his slipstream side by side and he starts moving across in the braking area, which all the drivers have agreed not to do that because it is not sporting-like and we have agreed not to do that. When he started to do that I wasn't that worried about making contact at the end.

"I got really well in there in the braking area. Then I thought he is coming across and I was trying to get back out then, but I couldn't get my front wheel back out from behind his rear wheel. Sometimes, even when he is in the shit, he doesn't like to give or take. But that is probably why he is a good champion."

Schumacher himself, whose race was effectively killed off by the incident, said he would want to look at a video of the incident before making a judgement about who was to blame.

"Down the straight I saw him coming close," explained the German. "He went to the right and then I started to brake, I couldn't see him any more and he wasn't really beside me. And in mid-corner I got a bang from the rear.

"I would suspect he wasn't really next to me to take the corner.  I don't think it makes sense to do that in that position, being one lap down, because you are never going to make up that lap. But it may be better to watch the videos and have a look."