Williams denies it has super stopping power

Juan Pablo Montoya was taken out from the lead of the Brazilian Grand Prix by Jos Verstappen's Arrows, which he had just lapped, while team mate Ralf Schumacher was rammed from behind by Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello at the same spot early in the race. Schumacher's car was also rear-ended by Jacques Villeneuve's BAR in the Australian Grand Prix, an accident which resulted in the death of a spectator marshal.

According to Williams's chief operations engineer, Sam Michael, there is nothing special about its braking system or the slipstream that the car gives.

"We've looked at all the data, checked the braking distances, the tyre differences, our top speeds relative to the others to try and find a reason," he said. "But there's no consistent pattern. We've just got to put it down to coincidence and bad luck.

"We've been hit by three different drivers and I can't put anything down to consistent reasons. I know there's been talk that maybe our slipstream is pulling people in, because of our top speed, but it's not to the level where it would make a difference.

"We've looked at the brakes, too, and it can't be that because Juan Pablo got past Michael [Schumacher] from quite a distance back in Brazil, and Ralf overtook 10 cars in 30 laps. We don't think it's a problem," added Michael.

Michael Schumacher, who followed Montoya for 25 laps around Interlagos, said the Williams didn't have a noticeable advantage under braking.

"Maybe I wasn't close enough to get a tow, but I didn't notice anything special," said the reigning world champion. "For me it's more a question of the men involved rather than some system."

Arrows, meanwhile, has withdrawn its appeal over the US$15,000 penalty handed to Verstappen for the Interlagos incident with Montoya.