Austrian GP: Sauber race notes

Neither Nick Heidfeld nor Felipe Massa was able to finish today's Austrian Grand Prix in their Sauber Petronas C21s. Felipe retired with a suspension problem on lap seven after holding ninth place, and Nick was eliminated in a heavy accident on lap 28 when running fifth.

Nick Heidfeld:

"I made a great start to beat both BMW Williams and held third place for the first lap. After they overtook I was comfortable in fifth place and everything was going well. But after the first safety car incident Coulthard and I were side-by-side going down to the hairpin. I saw a cloud of tyre smoke as Yoong braked really hard and early ahead of us, and maybe I pressed the pedal too hard as a result while the brakes were still cool. The car got away from me and next thing I knew I was going backwards down the grass. I'm just thankful that Takuma is okay."

Felipe Massa:

"Raikkonen forced me wide in the first corner and I lost three places, but I was attacking when I felt something go wrong with the left rear suspension in Turn 3 on the seventh lap. My right front wheel was coming off the ground and I could feel the undertray scraping the track, so I came in to retire."

Willy Rampf (Technical Director):

"We suspect that Felipe's suspension problem was a result of damage sustained in the first corner, but in any case we have already begun an investigation. It appears that Nick was obliged to brake hard while the discs were still cool after the safety car period, but the main thing is that both he and Sato escaped an unpleasant accident without injury."

Driver (Chassis)
Heidfeld (C21-06)
1:11.797s, 5th
Retired lap 28, accident

Massa (C21-03)
1:11.512s, 3rd
Retired lap 7, suspension
Spare: (C21-01)

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