Piquet Blames Noda for Crash

Piquet was fighting back from a stuck wheel during his mandatory pitstop and drive-through penalty when the collision occurred.

Fighting for eighth, Piquet was sandwiched between the Japanese car and Tomas Enge's Czech Republic machine, when Noda and Piquet collided, damaging the Brazilian's left-rear wheel and spinning him out of the race.

Despite the retirement, Piquet's third place from the sprint race and a bonus point for fastest lap ensured Brazil stayed in the lead of the Championship, ahead of double Lausitz race winners France and consistent performers New Zealand.

Piquet Jr said: "When the safety car went back in I was in the points but the Japanese guy made a silly, inexperienced mistake and put me out.

"It was a bit of a difficult weekend, but there are still a lot of positives and at least we know we are quick and still in the lead in the Championship. I was quick and really thought I could do well but then we had the bad pitstop and the drive through."

Brazil's team boss Emerson Fittipaldi said that his driver was fortunate the accident wasn't more serious.

"He is lucky the car didn't end up upside-down." Fittipaldi said. "After the safety car came in but he got squeezed by two cars and had nowhere to go when the Japan car turned in on him."