Renault had a mixed afternoon at the Nürburgring today: Nick Heidfeld lasted just 9 laps before his race was ended by a collision with Sebastien Buemi and, although Vitaly Petrov picked up his first point since the Canadian Grand Prix by finishing tenth, the Russian felt he could have done better.
“Well, it's another point gained today, but really we need to analyse exactly why we lost positions out there, and why we didn't come in to the pits earlier to fight with the group in front,” said Petrov, who clearly thought he should have finished closer to the front.
“The start was good and I had some decent battles, including with Jenson (Button) and Michael (Schumacher), but the main thing is we need to look at why the likes of Sauber and Force India are finishing higher than us, and correct it as soon as possible. We must now concentrate on Hungary and getting some good points there before the summer break.”
Heidfeld may only have had a short race, but it was eventful. He collided with Paul di Resta on the opening lap, dropping the pair of them to the back of the field, and then hit Buemi as he tried to recover through the field.
The German was deemed responsible for the first incident, and the stewards were announced a drive-through penalty just as Heidfeld’s race was ending with him beached in a gravel trap. Buemi was guilty for that collision though, and the Toro Rosso driver will serve a five-place grid penalty next weekend in Hungary.
“I was squeezed at the start and sandwiched in the second corner,” said Heidfeld, recalling the first accident. “Heading into the third corner Paul di Resta was on the outside. I locked up my front wheels and tried to avoid him but just slid into him as there was nowhere to go.
“After that I was trying very hard to make up positions and I overtook some cars before I was behind Sébastien Buemi. He blocked the left hand side, as he is allowed to do, but when I went to his right hand side he just moved over on me. He must have known I was there.
“I had a lot more speed than him and was on my way to pass. He just didn't give me any room and pushed me on to the grass and after that there was nothing I could do. It was an accident which couldn't be avoided. It's never nice being up in the air in one of these cars and it could have been dangerous.”
